Vladimir Nabokov Biography

Nabokov's "Lolita" (1955) is frequently cited as his most important novel, and is at any rate his most widely known one, exhibiting the love of intricate wordplay and descriptive detail that characterized all his works.

"Speak, Memory" (1951), was listed eighth on the publisher's list of the 20th century's greatest nonfiction. He was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction seven times.

Nabokov, like his wife, his son and several characters in his novels, was a synesthete. He was also an expert lepidopterist and composer of chess problems.

Novels written in English:

• (1941) The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
• (1947) Bend Sinister
• (1955) Lolita, self-translated into Russian (1965)
• (1957) Pnin
• (1962) Pale Fire
• (1969) Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle
• (1972) Transparent Things
• (1974) Look at the Harlequins!
• (2009) The Original of Laura (fragmentary, written during the mid-1970s and published posthumously)

Novels and novellas written in Russian:

• (1926) Mashen'ka (Машенька); English translation: Mary (1970)
• (1928) Korol' Dama Valet (Король, дама, валет); English translation: King, Queen, Knave (1968)
• (1930) Zashchita Luzhina (Защита Лужина); English translation: The Luzhin Defense or The Defense
• (1964) (also adapted to film, The Luzhin Defence, in 2000)
• (1930) Sogliadatai (Соглядатай (The Voyeur)), novella; first publication as a book 1938; English translation: The Eye (1965)
• (1932) Podvig (Подвиг (Deed)); English translation: Glory (1971)
• (1933) Kamera Obskura (Камера Обскура); English translations: Camera Obscura (1936), Laughter in the Dark (1938)
• (1934) Otchayanie (Отчаяние); English translation: Despair (1937, 1965)
• (1936) Priglasheniye na kazn' (Приглашение на казнь (Invitation to an execution)); English translation: Invitation to a Beheading (1959)
• (1938) Dar (Дар); English translation: The Gift (1963)
• (Unpublished novella, written in 1939) Volshebnik (Волшебник); English translation: The Enchanter 1985)