Pale Fire is a complex and unique novel that revolves around a 999-line poem written by John Shade, with added commentary and index by Charles Kinbote. The poem delves into Shade's personal life, particularly focusing on the death of his daughter, while Kinbote interprets it as a political commentary on the coup in his home country of Zenobia. The narrative unfolds through the interplay between Shade's poem and Kinbote's commentary, creating a multi-layered and intricate story that blurs the lines between reality and fiction.
Nabokov's writing style in Pale Fire is characterized by its lush, pulpy prose that beautifully describes intricate details and creates vivid imagery. The novel's format challenges traditional storytelling by using the form of literary criticism to weave together the lives of three men: Shade, Kinbote, and Gradus. Through the use of unreliable narrators and metafictional elements, Nabokov crafts a narrative that is both humorous and thought-provoking, inviting readers to delve into the complexities of the text and uncover hidden meanings.
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Triggers may include themes of suicide, mental illness, and violence.
From The Publisher:
In Pale Fire Nabokov offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures: a 999-line poem by the reclusive genius John Shade; an adoring foreword and commentary by Shade's self-styled Boswell, Dr. Charles Kinbote; a darkly comic novel of suspense, literary idolatry and one-upmanship, and political intrigue.
Ratings (27)
Incredible (7) | |
Loved It (12) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (79):
Read It (28) | |
Want To Read (44) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (6) |
1 comment(s)
Frustrating but worth it. It's a lot to ask me to flip from annotations to the "main" text and back - especially when your endnotes aren't marked in the text. Damn you, Nabokov. But I'm glad I read it. Recommended, but not to read on the subway or anywhere your hands are full.
What can you read after
Pale Fire?
About the Author:
Vladimir Nabokov studied French and Russian literature at Trinity College, Cambridge, then lived in Berlin and Paris, writing prolifically in Russian under the pseudonym Sirin. In 1940, he left France for America, where he wrote some of his greatest works-Bend Sinister (1947), Lolita (1955), Pnin (1957),…
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