Vladimir nabokov 18991977, one of the 20th centurys greatest writers in both russian and english, was born in st. Nikolai gogol was one of the great geniuses of nineteenth century russian literature, with a command of the irrational unmatched by any writer. This biography begins with gogols death and ends with his birth, an inverted structure typical of both gogol and nabokov. Nabokovs thin biography on nikolai gogol is less biography and more quirky treatise written by one writer about an admired writer.
His strange tales, though often read as forceful demands for social change, were displays of. I reread nabokovs nikolai gogol over the weekend on the heels of finishing the incomparable memoir, speak, memory, which he was writing around the same time. Nabokovs thin biography on nikolai gogol is less biography and more. In addition to his literary work, he was a passionate lepidopterist and chess player. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov editions poetry london london 1947. But if nabokov is an intimidating writer of fiction which is a stronger word than i would use, he is. Association copy, inscribed by the author in russian on the front free endpaper with a drawing of a butterfly, in russian in the year of publication, to leon dinkin with congenial salutation vladimir nabokov sep xi 1944. This slim book, which nabokov always referred to in letters as gogol through the looking glass, is his first great book in english. His books include lolita, pale fire, the real light of sebastian knight, laughter in the. Written in 1944, this little book about the 19thcentury russian writer brims with inaccuracies, gaping lacunae and strong opinions. Nikolai gogol ebook by vladimir nabokov rakuten kobo. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
Nikolai gogol by nabokov, vladimir and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nikolai gogol and vladimir nabokov, both of whom have birthdays in april their 190th and 100th, respectively, were two of the greatest russian writers of the past 200 years. See all 12 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Buy nikolai gogol penguin modern classics by nabokov, vladimir isbn. Nikolai vasilievich gogol was a ukrainianborn russian writer. Vladimir nabokov nikolai gogol was one of the great geniuses of nineteenth century russian literature, with a command of the irrational unmatched by any writer before or since. Near fine in a very good priceclipped dust jacket with some rubbing to the extremities. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Overt and covert shandyism of nabokovs nikolai gogol. The book came out in 1944 in the makers of modern literature series. His strange tales, though often read as forceful demands for social change, were displays of the fantasies of the human spirit. The biographer proceeds to establish the relationship between gogol and his novels, especially with regard to noseconsciousness, a peculiar feature of russian life and letters, which finds its apotheosis in gogols own life and prose.
Its greyscale picture of nikolai gogol stares at you with one eye while the other cubistically folds over the book s spine. The biographer proceeds to establish the relationship between gogol and his novels, especially with regard to noseconsciousness, a peculiar feature of russian life and letters, which finds its apotheosis in gogol s own life and prose. Vladimir nabokovs nikolai gogolwas commissioned by james laughlin, a young. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov penguin books australia. Five tragicomic tales from the visionary writer heralded by vladimir nabokov as the greatest artist that russia has yet produced a midlevel bureaucrat in the czars administration, poprishchin is hurrying to work when he sees a woman step out of a carriage. But his erudite, inventive approach to writing buttressed by his formidable academic and cultural intellect made him a literary legend.
First edition of nabokovs criticism of the work of russian literary master nikolai gogol. Overview nikolai gogol was the most idiosyncratic of the great russian novelists of the 19th century and lived a tragically short life which was as chaotic as the lives of the characters he created. Nikokai gogol book by vladimir nabokov thriftbooks. Nikolai gogol was the most idiosyncratic of the great russian novelists of the 19th century and lived a tragically short life which was as chaotic as the lives of. Nikolai gogol was one of the great geniuses of nineteenth century russian literature, with a command of the irrational unmatched by any writer before or since. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov vladimir vladimirovich nabokov home. In this witty book about nikolai gogol, nabokov captures perfectly gogols dreamlike, irrational, surrealistic absurdity.
Nabokovs gogol book is one of the most exhilarating, engaging, and original works ever written by one writer about another. Buy a cheap copy of nikokai gogol book by vladimir nabokov. The work of gogolone of the very greatest of russias literary geniu. Nikolai gogol 1944 was his last book with new directions. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Nikolai gogol was the most idiosyncratic of the great russian novelists of the 19th century and lived a tragically short life which was as chaotic as the lives of the characters he created. One fairly accurate cardiogram of just how violently the angloamerican heart palpitates over. The work of gogolone of the very greatest of russias literary geniuseshas become fairly well known i.
Vladimir nabokovs book on nikolai gogol is my favorite sort of thing. This biography begins with gogol s death and ends with his birth, an inverted structure typical of both gogol and nabokov. Read nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov available from rakuten kobo. The biographer proceeds to establish the relationship between gogol and his novels.
Buy nikolai gogol corrected ed by nabokov, vladimir isbn. Nikolai gogol 1959 vladimir nabokov i swore to take a break from nabokov after handing in my thesis, then promptly broke my oath when i remembered this slim volume on my desk. He was one of the major proponents of the natural school of russian literary realism. What a happy task to be asked to choose a definitive title from ones personal canon. In short, gogol is a perfect little book, and necessary for anyone who. The biographer proceeds to establish the relationship. Outstanding among his many other books are the brilliant novels pnin and pale fire, and his memoir, speak memory. Gogol himself would have found nabokovs book about him something less than. Nabokov 18991977 had a penchant for writing about the tragic and the taboo in his books, especially the stillcontroversial lolita. Gogol himself would have found nabokovs book about him. Nabokovs style in this biography is comic, but as always leads to serious issuesin this case, an appreciation of the distinctive sense of the physical inherent in gogols work. However, this is the first time that his arrogance bothered me. There have been many unfortunate translations of his work in english and few good ones.
Nabokov is a joy to read, period, and his insights about gogol were helpful in articulating the swirling mess of thoughts i had about him. In vladimir nabokovs idiosyncratic 1944 study of gogol, he forever linked dead souls to the russian word poshlost, a noun that defies easy translation but suggests the vulgar and commonplace. Although gogol was considered by his contemporaries to be one of the preeminent figures of the natural school of russian literary realism, later critics have found in his work a fundamentally. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov, 9780811201209, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The work of gogolone of the greatest of russias literary geniuseshas become fairly well known in america but has seldom been understood. Nikolai gogol, paperback by nabokov, vladimir vladimirovich, isbn 0811201201, isbn 9780811201209, brand new, free shipping in the us nikolai gogol was the most idiosyncratic of the great russian novelists of the 19th century and lived a tragically short life which was as chaotic as the lives of the characters he created.
Readers of vladimir nabokovs novels might be slightly uncomfortable with them, were they not so aweinspiring. James laughlin declined to publish the literary bombshell and masterpiece lolita, which rocketed nabokov to worldwide fame. As one can surmise from the few examples cited above, nabokovs nikolai gogol, by contrast, is marked with a prominent and selforiented narrative, an impressionistic, descriptive language, and a lack of interest in factual information about gogols life as the book. He studied french and russian literature at trinity college, cambridge, then lived in berlin and paris, where he launched a brilliant literary career. Association copy, inscribed by the author in russian on the front free endpaper with a drawing of a butterfly, in russian in the year of publication, to leon dinkin with congenial salutation vladimir nabokov sep xi. Petersburg, russia, and spent his adult life in germany, france, the united states, and switzerland. Nabokov describes how gogols life and literature mingled, and explains the structure and style of gogols prose in terms of the novelists life. Nikolai gogol isbn 9780811201209 pdf epub vladimir. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov national library of.
Nikolai gogol was one of the great geniuses of nineteenth century russian literature, with a command of the irrational u. One of the twentieth centurys master prose stylists, vladimir nabokov 1899 1977 was born in st petersburg, but left russia when the bolsheviks seized power. In many ways, the creative works of gogol and nabokov could not be more different. He does not laden his book with facts about gogols life but succinctly sets out his impressions of gogols works. He contributed to russian literature through his magnificently crafted dramas, novels and short stories. Nikolai gogol by vladimir nabokov overdrive rakuten. In this biography i really hesitate to use that word of gogol, nabokov spends as much time praising his own translations and deriding others, inserting obscure or at least unnecessary literary references, explicating his understanding of.
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