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Description edit
A 999 line poem in heroic couplets, divided into 4 cantos, was composed — according to Nabokov's fiction — by John Francis Shade, an obsessively methodical man, during the last 20 days of his life.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- John Francis Shade: Poet and a victim of the terrorist's action. Nabokov seems to be the first to touch the theme of terrorism in his novel Pale Fire.
- Charles Kinbote: Add a description of this character.
- Hazel: John Shade's daughter.
- Gradus
- Sybil
- John Shade
- Odon
- Oleg
- Gordon
- Disa
- Dr Sutton
- Maud
- Jack Grey
- Charles Xavier
- Charlie
- Sylvia
- Vanessa
- Blenda
- Oswin Bretwit
- Fleur
- Lavender
Setting & Locations edit
- Zemblan
- Paris
- Onhava
- Russia
- New Wye
- New York
- America
- Arcady
- Geneva
- Goldsworth
- England
- Washington
- Niagarin
- Copenhagen
- France
- Lochanhead
First Sentence edit
Pale Fire, a poem in heroic couplets, of nine hundred ninety-nine lines, divided into four cantos, was composed by John Francis Shade (born July 5, 1898, died July 21, 1959) during the last twenty days of his life, at his residence in New Wye, Appalachia, U.S.A.
Table of Contents edit
Foreword
Pale Fire: A Poem in Four Cantos
Commentary
Index
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Anthony Burgess's Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939 - A Personal Choice. (community list)
This is book 1 of 100 in 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction. (authoritative list)
Followed by Ulysses.
This is book 115 of 214 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Roots, and followed by Franny and Zooey.
This is book 438 of 1271 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by A Clockwork Orange, and followed by The Drowned World.
This book is in TIME Magazine Top 100 English-Language Novels. (community list)
This is book 53 of 93 in Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Board's List. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Portnoy's Complaint, and followed by Light in August.
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 76 of 113 in Book Smart Reading List. (community list)
Preceded by Birds of America.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Vladimir Nabokov (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: 1962
ISBN: 0399121617
Page Count: 315
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: 1962
ISBN: 0399121617
Page Count: 315
Awards edit
- National Book Award (Finalist, 1963: Fiction)
- Publishing Triangle's 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 818'.54
Subjects edit
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Books with Additional Background Information edit
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