Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov was born on April 22, 1899 in St. Petersburg, Russia to a
wealthy aristocratic family. Tutored in both Russian and English, Nabokov
was later educated at Trinity College in Cambridge. He graduated in 1923.
He subsequently moved to Berlin, where he married Vera Evseevna Slonim and
worked for 15 years as a translator, tutor and tennis coach. He soon won
acceptance as a preeminent young author in the German-Russian community and
published his first novel, "Mashenka," in 1926.
Nabokov published his first nine novels under the pseudonym Vladimir Serim.
After relative success, he moved to Paris in 1937 and continued to the
United States in 1940. He taught at Wellesley College and Cornell
University. His first English novels were "The Real Life of Sebastian
Knight" (1941) and "Bend Sinister" (1947).
It was with "Lolita," written in 1955, that Nabokov gained his greatest
fame. A provocative story of a middle-aged man, Humbert Humbert, who falls
in love with a 12-year-old nymphet, the book sparked a number of debates
concerning the decency of its content. Beautifully written, it is considered
one of the author's masterpieces.
In 1959, Nabokov moved to Montreux, Switzerland, where he lived until his
death on July 2, 1977.
Nabokov on the Web
- CNN Special on Nabokov
Offers a number of links and a large amount of information on the writer.
- Fan site
Dedicated to Nabokov with links to his works and other resources.
- New York Times Feature on Nabokov
Registration is required for free access.
- The International Vladimir Nabokov Society (IVNS)
Dedicated to the appreciation of the writings of Vladimir Nabokov, the
exchange of views and the fellowship of readers.
- Vladimir Nabokov A-Z
A searchable database of Nabokov's works, characters and terms.
- Zembla
Dedicated to the life and works of author, translator and lepidopterist.
Nabokov was highly interested in lepidopterology, a branch of entomology
concerned with lepidopterans, a large order of insects comprising the
butterflies, moths, and skippers.
-- A.L.
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