Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) was a Russian-born novelist, short-story writer, translator, and lepidopterist. He wrote in both Russian and English and is widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His English-language novels, including Lolita and Pale Fire, brought him international fame, while his Russian works are studied for their stylistic finesse.

Born into an aristocratic family in Saint Petersburg, Nabokov fled Russia after the revolution and lived in various European countries before emigrating to the United States in the 1940s. He and his wife, Véra Nabokova, maintained a long collaboration, and he became a naturalized citizen later. He also translated classic works, notably Alexander Pushkin's Eugene Onegin into English.

Beyond Lolita, his other notable novels include The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (1941), Bend Sinister (1947), and Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle (1969). His technique combines precise language, playful wordplay, and intricate structures, including non-linear chronology and self-referential devices. The narrative is often framed around memory, artifice, and the relationship between creator and text.

Nabokov's influence extends to postwar fiction and translation studies. His legacy rests on his mastery of language, his challenges to conventional realism, and his willingness to experiment with form while maintaining moral and aesthetic clarity. His works remain central to discussions of narrative technique, metafiction, and the art of translation.