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Maturity and Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov and Lolita
welcome Books have always been filthy, perverted and totally wild - right? You might not think so, but you’d be surprised. Books represent so much about society, they are the first things fascists burn as they represent total freedom of imagination, you can’t dictate imagination. At tabÚ we are embracing the side of literature you might not have seen before, we are embracing problematic themes, out of control authors and general literary debauchery of all kinds. Brace yourself.
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puppet master
Vladimir Nabokov was a prolific writer in both Russian and English, publishing many books and short stories before his death, none more controversial than Lolita however. Vladimir Nabokov was born in 1899 to a very affluent Russian family, his father was a journalist and prominent political figure and his mother was the heiress of a very successful gold miner, meaning money was no object to the family. They lived in Saint Petersburg for the first part of Vladimir’s life, where he and his four siblings wanted for nothing and were extremely well educated, being trilingual from a young age. Vladimir was a writer first and foremost, publishing a book of poetry at the age of just seventeen, he received valuable criticism and praise in equal measure from literary critics and it seemed his career had begun. However, shortly after this point the family were forced to flee, moving between European countries before finally settling in England. In England Nabokov enrolled at Cambridge University where he excelled, studying both zoology and Slavic languages simultaneously. The family moved again whilst he was studying, upon graduating he joined them in Berlin. Tragically Vladimir’s father was killed in Berlin in a case
of mistaken identity, he was a prominent figure in German politics by this point and was fatally shot by a Russian monarchist who was intending to assassinate a prominent Democratic politician. After the death of his father Nabokov threw himself into his career, becoming head of entomology at a Natural History Museum whilst writing consistently in his spare time. It was only after meeting his wife Vera, having a son and moving to America that he started to write Lolita- the book that would change his life. Vladimir had the idea for Lolita for years before he sat down to write it, and the path to the final manuscript was not a smooth one. It has been said that his wife Vera is to thank for the publication of the story as she supposedly saved it from being thrown into the fire in frustration many times. Nabokov went on to pursue a successful career in museums and natural history, continuing to write short stories and novels until his death, though his most notorious narrative followed him throughout his career he spoke rarely of Lolita, seemingly allowing the book to speak for itself.
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
the brute and the butterfly Throughout ‘Lolita’ Humbert references butterflies and lepidopterology, frequently likening nymphets to butterflies or moths. This metaphor carries through the book as he begins to see Lolita meta-morph into a young woman before his eyes like a caterpillar to a butterfly. Within the metaphor he sees himself as an expert, studying these young women in the same way a butterfly enthusiast would study his catch. He is clumsy and heavy handed compared to the ever graceful and fragile young women, giving way to the idea of the butterfly and the brute that exists through the narrative. Vladimir Nabokov was a butterfly collector and scholar, creating many hundreds of meticulously detailed scientific illustrations of them throughout his life. Aside from being an author he was an affiliate of entomology at the American Museum of Natural History, working to document thousands of species of butterflies. Nabokov’s specific interest in butterflies can be seen all the way through Lolita, with many small hints and comparisons littered through the text, the symbolism of the fragile and dainty insects and the lumbering brutish collector perfectly represents the power play in the novel- a clash of vulnerability and cunning.
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
early days Lolita was Vladimir Nabokov’s best selling book, the one that made his fortune and secured his legacy as one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century, however Lolita faced teething problems that meant it almost didn’t make it to sale at all. Nabokov wrote Lolita in 1953, having started it in 1948. The manuscript took him just over five years to complete, partially because he decided to write it in English, despite being a native Russian speaker. Nabokov intended to release the book under a pseudonym as he felt that the subject matter would mean he was considered a target for abuse and judgement if audiences could not separate the story from the author - this plan went out the window however when he found himself struggling to find anyone to publish the book at all. Lolita was rejected by the biggest publishing names across the UK, with many American publishing houses also turning it down on the grounds that it was too controversial. Dejected and frustrated Nabokov passed the manuscript onto a translator in the hope that it could be published in a different language, through this
it ended up at Olympia Press who finally agreed to distribute it. Olympia Press were a Parisian publishing house notorious at the time for printing taboo and controversial books, they exploited a loop hole in the law that stated English language books published in France were not subject to the strict censorship of the time. Three quarters of what Olympia Press published was pornography, though Nabokov was blissfully unaware of this fact. Finally in 1955 Lolita was published as two green cover paper backs (a design reserved for pornographic texts at the time) and distributed around France. The first run of the books sold well, with all 5000 copies being sold, surprisingly there was little to none of the predicted and feared uproar, the book was released and somewhat disappeared for a while, though this was most definitely the calm before the storm for Lolita.
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
dividing people In 1955 Lolita shocked audiences to the core. The supporters of the book were labelled as sympathisers, if you didn’t hate the book you condoned it. This caused huge amounts of trouble for Nabokov, who to all intents and purposes had seemingly wasted five years of his life writing a book that may never be read after 1955. A few months after the initial release of Lolita a review was finally published, a UK based critic for the Sunday Times penned a glowing review of Lolita, name checking it as one of the best books of the year. This quickly provoked a retaliation, with a rival newspaper editor slamming the book as the “filthiest thing” he had ever read- this got people talking. After the Sunday Express stated that the book was pornographic and the public found out that the object of desire within the narrative was only twelve years old there was an uproar to say the least. The British Home Office went into sheer panic mode and instructed police to seize all copies of the book entering
the country from France, copies within the country were to be destroyed. Soon after this France took a stand and followed suit, making the publication and distribution of the text even harder. The French ban on Lolita lasted for two years, it wasn’t published again in the UK until four years later in 1959 where it proved just as controversial. Just three years later the book was made into a film that the audiences of 1962 appreciated and feared in equal measure, even to this day the book divides people. To cut to the chase, Lolita tackles the subject of paedophilia, an obviously criminal and most definitely taboo subject in most people’s minds. Through the eyes of
an unreliable narrator the reader is led through the ups and downs of a convoluted relationship that borders on incest, abuse and certainly paedophilia. A likeable protagonist has the reader questioning their emotions as they follow along wondering why they agree with or support anything that he does, why they feel themselves blaming the young girl and why they want both characters to blossom and succeed despite the circumstances. The book tests people, which enthrals some and enrages others. It’s easily one of the most divisive pieces of literature ever published, even in today’s much more accepting and desensitised culture.
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
L L Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
“She was Lo, plain Lo, in th e morni ng, standin g four f eet ten in one s ock. Sh e was L in slack ola s. She w as Dolly school. at She was Dolores the dott on ed line. But in m arms sh y e was a lways Lolita.”
sending shockwaves Lolita is infamous and notorious even to those who have never read the book. The shock of it’s release and popularity continues to ripple year after year as more people devour the pages hoping to figure it out. Lolita is introduced by a fictitious doctor who explains that he is presenting the memoirs of a man who died from a heart attack on death row in America whilst awaiting the result of a murder charge. The memoir is narrated by Humbert Humbert, a pseudonymous name given as a way to protect the character’s identity. Straight in at the deep end, Humbert begins by explaining to the reader the definition of the word ‘nymphet’- a young girl between puberty and adolescence that he considers to be the most beautiful and sexually enticing thing in the world.
The book does not condone or condemn this, Humbert is frank and self critical at the start of the book, explaining that his obsession started when he had a love affair at the age of 13 with a girl the same age that ended with her dying of typhus before they could consummate their relationship. This leaves Humbert with residual attraction to young girls that develops throughout his life into a full obsession that occupies his thoughts almost constantly. His obsession with nymphets leads him through a series of disappointing adult relationships, many with him
being abusive or aggressive towards the women he dates, struggling to connect with them emotionally on any level whilst desiring their younger counterparts. Eventually fate leads him to the home of a widowed woman and her twelve year old daughter, Humbert is invited to live in their spare room as a lodger whilst he studies and writes a book. The twelve year old girl becomes Humbert’s obsession, Dolores is portrayed as being sexually aggressive and flirtatious despite her age, with Humbert implying she is leading him on in many passages of the story. He
LITA Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
nicknames her Lolita pursuing her relentlessly, eventually marrying her mother simply to get close to her and earn her trust. As Lolita’s stepfather he ends up as the girl’s sole carer later in the book, a position he takes full advantage of. Taking Dolores on a never ending tour of American motels in order to keep his intentions undetectable he sets about seducing the girl, packing a mix of sleeping pills he intends to drugs her with in order to sleep with her, though this proves unnecessary. The young girl is coerced into sleeping with Humbert, travelling with
him aimlessly in a paedophilic and borderline incestuous relationship sure to raise reader’s eyebrows. Throughout the story Lolita is seen to be temptress, luring Humbert in with her actions, he is largely seen to be blamelessalmost a victim. This unreliable narration was highly praised by literary critics, it makes the reader question all that they think they know about the characters and the story- the more you read the less you know in many cases. To this day Lolita is met with a mixed reaction, many are scared to read it as they fear
being complicit in something awful, others revel in the difficult subject matter and embrace the moral confusion. Whichever side of that you fall on it is important to see Lolita for what it is, a carefully crafted and cunningly written story that challenges the reader at ever turn. Nabokov has created a moral dilemma in a novel that you would think is easily solved, but through intense character development and deceitful narration he creates a muddy pool of moral ambiguity that begs more questions than it answers. Lolita will no doubt continue to inspire and intimidate for years.
tabĂš Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
Maturity & Modesty: Vladimir Nabokov
thank you As always thank you for reading, but don't let the conversation stop here. Head over to our little corner of the internet and keep the controversy going. Be a proud bookworm and wear your kooky and kinky book knowledge with pride - you know something that other people don't know, and you've got to love that feeling.
thank you As always thank you for reading, but don't let the conversation stop here. Head over to our little corner of the internet and keep the controversy going. Be a proud bookworm and wear your kooky and kinky book knowledge with pride - you know something that other people don't know, and you've got to love that feeling.
tabĂš @tabu.books