Pale Fire
With an Introduction by Mary Gaitskill
(Author) Vladimir Nabokov'One of the greatest books I've ever read. Its heart is strange, but it is huge; let yours beat in response' MARY GAITSKILL Pale Fire, a 999-line poem, is the final work of the celebrated - and recently murdered - American author, John Francis Shade. Here that poem is transcribed, introduced and annotated (at length) by Shade's fellow scholar, neighbour and apparent friend, Charles Kinbote. Approaching this task with gusto, Kinbote's annotations reveal conclusive evidence of his own impact on Shade, disguised references to the northern land of Zembla, which he may or may not have once ruled over, and fuel for his many preoccupations and paranoia. And - as his annotations become more desperate, more deluded, more deranged - Kinbote unintentionally sheds new light on the poet's last days and the pair's 'glorious friendship'. A murder mystery, a work of wild invention, a reimagining of what the novel can do, a piece of exquisite comedy, Pale Fire is widely regarded as Nabokov's masterpiece and one of the most brilliant novels ever written. A W&N Essential with an introduction from Mary Gaitskill
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian-American novelist and lepidopterist known for his intricate writing style and innovative narrative techniques. His most notable works include "Lolita," a controversial novel that explored taboo themes with lyrical prose, and "Pale Fire," a complex and metafictional masterpiece. Nabokov's writing often featured wordplay, allusions, and unreliable narrators, challenging readers to engage with his work on multiple levels. His contributions to literature include expanding the possibilities of fiction and redefining the boundaries of the novel. Nabokov's impact on the literary genre of modernist and postmodernist literature is profound, influencing writers such as Salman Rushdie and David Foster Wallace. "Lolita" remains his most famous and enduring work, cementing his legacy as one of the great literary innovators of the 20th century.
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