Vladimir Nabokov
Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist.
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, where he met his wife, Véra Nabokov. He achieved international acclaim after moving to the United States, where he began writing in English. Trilingual in Russian, English, and French, he became a U.S. citizen in 1945 and lived mostly on the East Coast before returning to Europe in 1961, settling in Montreux, Switzerland. His 1955 novel *Lolita* ranked fourth on Modern Library's list of the 100 best 20th-century novels in 1998 and is considered one of the greatest works of 20th-century literature.
- born
- 22 April 1899 (O.S. 10 April 1899), Saint Petersburg, Imperial Russia
- died
- 2 July 1977, Montreux, Switzerland
- field
- Novelist, poet, translator, entomologist
- nationality
- Russian, later American (U.S. citizen from 1945)
- known_for
- Novel *Lolita* (1955), *Pale Fire* (1962), memoir *Speak, Memory* (1951)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Nabokov was born on 22 April [O.S. 10 April] 1899 in Saint Petersburg to a wealthy and prominent family of the Russian nobility. His father was Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov, a liberal lawyer, statesman, and journalist, and his mother was the heiress Yelena Ivanovna née Rukavishnikova. The family spoke Russian, English, and French in their household, and Nabokov was trilingual from an early age. In 1916, he published his first book, *Stikhi* (Poems), a collection of 68 Russian poems. After the October Revolution, the family fled to Crimea, then to England, where Nabokov gained admittance to Trinity College, Cambridge, studying zoology and later Slavic and Romance languages. In March 1922, his father was shot and killed in Berlin by Russian monarchists. Nabokov stayed in Berlin, where he became a recognized poet and writer in Russian under the pen name V. Sirin. He married Véra Evseyevna Slonim in April 1925; their only child, Dmitri, was born in 1934. In 1937, he left Germany for France, and in May 1940, the Nabokovs fled to the United States via the SS Champlain. From 1948 to 1959, he was a professor of Russian literature at Cornell University. He returned to Europe in 1961, settling in Montreux, Switzerland, where he died on 2 July 1977.
Reader's Guide
Nabokov's significance lies in his masterful command of multiple languages and his innovative literary style. *Time* magazine wrote that he had 'evolved a vivid English style which combines Joycean word play with a Proustian evocation of mood and setting.' His novel *Lolita* (1955) ranked fourth on Modern Library's list of the 100 best 20th-century novels in 1998. *Pale Fire* (1962) ranked 53rd on the same list. His memoir *Speak, Memory* (1951) placed eighth on Random House's ranking of 20th-century nonfiction works. Nabokov was a seven-time finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. He also was an expert lepidopterist and composer of chess problems. His work often drew on his own life, including his father's assassination and his exile from Russia. His legacy endures as a writer who bridged Russian and American literary traditions, and as a polymath who contributed to entomology and chess problem composition.
Did You Know?
- Nabokov could read and write in English before he could in Russian, much to his patriotic father's disappointment.
- His first book, *Stikhi* (Poems), published in 1916, was a collection of 68 Russian poems.
- Nabokov's father was killed in Berlin in March 1922 while shielding politician Pavel Milyukov from monarchist assassins.
- He wrote his final work of Russian fiction, the 55-page novella *The Enchanter*, in Paris in 1939, later calling it 'the first little throb of Lolita.'
- Nabokov was a seven-time finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vladimir Nabokov?
He was a Russian-born, later American, novelist, poet, translator, and lepidopterist who lived from 1899 to 1977. His writing is celebrated for its intricate wordplay, layered narratives, and lyrical prose style.
What is Vladimir Nabokov most famous for?
His 1955 novel *Lolita* is widely regarded as one of the defining works of twentieth-century literature. He is also well known for *Pale Fire* (1962) and his memoir *Speak, Memory* (1951).
Where was Vladimir Nabokov born and when did he die?
He was born in Saint Petersburg, Imperial Russia, on 22 April 1899, and passed away in Montreux, Switzerland, on 2 July 1977. He became a U.S. citizen in 1945 after emigrating from Europe.
What was Vladimir Nabokov's connection to entomology?
Beyond his literary career, he was a serious lepidopterist who spent years collecting and classifying butterflies, particularly in Costa Rica. He even illustrated his own butterfly plates for scientific publications.
Why is Vladimir Nabokov considered important in literature?
His prose is noted for its elaborate wordplay, unreliable narrators, and dense allusive structure, which influenced generations of writers who value linguistic precision and narrative complexity. His ability to shift between Russian and English literary traditions gave his work a distinctive bilingual texture.
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