Vladimir Nabokov
Russian-American novelist, lepidopterist, and author of Lolita.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist. Born in Imperial Russia in 1899, he wrote his first nine novels in Russian while living in Berlin, then achieved international acclaim after moving to the United States and writing in English. His 1955 novel Lolita is considered one of the greatest works of 20th-century literature.
- born
- 22 April [O.S. 10 April] 1899, Saint Petersburg, Imperial Russia
- died
- 2 July 1977, Montreux, Switzerland
- field
- Novelist, poet, translator, entomologist
- nationality
- Russian and American (U.S. citizen from 1945)
- known_for
- Novel Lolita; also Pale Fire, memoir Speak, Memory; lepidoptery; chess problems
Lore & Background
Nabokov was born into a wealthy Russian noble family in Saint Petersburg. His father was a liberal lawyer and statesman. Trilingual from childhood, Nabokov published his first book of poems in 1916. After the October Revolution, his family fled to Crimea and then to exile in western Europe. He studied zoology and Slavic languages at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1922. That same year, his father was killed in Berlin by Russian monarchists. Nabokov remained in Berlin, writing under the pen name Vladimir Sirin, and married Véra Slonim in 1925. They had one son, Dmitri, in 1934. He left Germany for France in 1937, then moved to the United States in 1940. He became a U.S. citizen in 1945 and taught Russian literature at Cornell University from 1948 to 1959. In 1961 he returned to Europe, settling in Montreux, Switzerland, where he died in 1977.
Reader's Guide
Nabokov's significance rests on his masterful prose, linguistic virtuosity, and controversial subject matter. Lolita, published in 1955, ranked fourth on Modern Library's 1998 list of the 100 best 20th-century novels. His 1962 novel Pale Fire ranked 53rd on the same list. His memoir Speak, Memory (1951) placed eighth on Random House's ranking of 20th-century nonfiction. He was a seven-time finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. Beyond literature, he was an expert lepidopterist and composer of chess problems. Time magazine noted he 'evolved a vivid English style which combines Joycean word play with a Proustian evocation of mood and setting.' His work continues to be studied for its intricate structure, wordplay, and exploration of memory and exile.
Did You Know?
- Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian while living in Berlin.
- He was a seven-time finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction.
- He was an expert lepidopterist and composer of chess problems.
- His father was killed in Berlin in 1922 while shielding politician Pavel Milyukov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vladimir Nabokov?
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian-born, American-naturalized novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist born in Saint Petersburg in 1899. He is best known internationally for his 1955 novel Lolita and for his memoir Speak, Memory.
What are Vladimir Nabokov's most famous works?
His best-known novels are Lolita (1955) and Pale Fire (1962), both written in English after he emigrated to the United States. His memoir Speak, Memory is also frequently cited as a masterwork of autobiographical prose.
Did Vladimir Nabokov write in more than one language?
Yes—his first nine novels were composed in Russian while he was living in Berlin during the 1920s and 1930s. After settling in the U.S. in the 1940s, he switched to English and produced the works that brought him worldwide acclaim.
What was Vladimir Nabokov's passion outside of literature?
Nabokov was a dedicated lepidopterist who spent decades collecting, studying, and describing butterfly species. He also composed chess problems, and his love of butterflies remained a lifelong obsession alongside his writing.
When and where did Vladimir Nabokov die?
He passed away on 2 July 1977 in Montreux, Switzerland, at the age of 78. His final years were spent in that Swiss town after decades of residing in the United States.
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