The Annotated Lolita: Revised and Updated

By Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov's wise, ironic, and elegant masterpiece. • A controversial love story almost shocking in its beauty and tenderness. • This annotated edition assiduously illuminates the extravagant wordplay and the frequent literary allusions, parodies, and cross-references. • Edited with a preface, introduction, and notes by Alfred Appel, Jr.

"Fascinatingly detailed." -Edmund Morris, The New York Times Book Review

When it was published in 1955, Lolita immediately became a cause célèbre because of the freedom and sophistication with which it handled the unusual erotic predilections of its protagonist. Awe and exhilaration–along with heartbreak and mordant wit–abound in this account of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze.

Lolita is also the story of a hypercivilized European colliding with the cheerful barbarism of postwar America, but most of all, it is a meditation on love–love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307788085

Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov (San Petersburgo, 1899-Montreux, 1977), uno de los más extraordinarios escritores del siglo XX, nació en el seno de una acomodada familia aristocrática. En 1919, a consecuencia de la Revolución Rusa, abandonó su país para siempre. Tras estudiar en Cambridge, se instaló en Berlín, donde empezó a publicar sus novelas en ruso con el seudónimo de V. Sirin. En 1937 se trasladó a París, y en 1940 a los Estados Unidos, donde fue profesor de literatura en varias universidades. En 1960, gracias al gran éxito comercial de Lolita, pudo abandonar la docencia, y poco después se trasladó a Montreux, donde residió, junto con su esposa Véra, hasta su muerte. En Anagrama se le ha dedicado una «Biblioteca Nabokov» que recoge una amplísima muestra de su talento narrativo. En «Compactos» se han publicado los siguientes títulos: Mashenka, Rey, Dama, Valet, La defensa, El ojo, Risa en la oscuridad, Desesperación, El hechicero, La verdadera vida de Sebastian Knight, Lolita, Pnin, Pálido fuego, Habla, memoria, Ada o el ardor, Invitado a una decapitación y Barra siniestra; La dádiva, Cosas transparentes, Una belleza rusa, El original de Laura y Gloria pueden encontrarse en «Panorama de narrativas», mientras que sus Cuentos completos están incluidos en la colección «Compendium». Opiniones contundentes, por su parte, ha aparecido en «Argumentos».

Reviews for The Annotated Lolita

[danielstj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Disturbing and haunting yet amazing in style. Nabokov is a good writer, even if what he writes about is taboo and, to be honest, repugnant.

[tstan-5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amazing writing, but the disgusting pedophilia made me want to throw the book, and throw up.

[profh-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Astonishing. One of the greatest accomplishments in all of literature.

[phoenixterran · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Imprisoned and awaiting trial for murder, Humbert Humbert pens in his cell a final manuscript, Lolita, or the Confession of a White Widowed Male. In it he describes his life, his dark and intense passion for a twelve-year-old girl, and what has brought him to where he is now. Told as a memoir of sorts and intended as testimony, he reveals his terrible flaws and reveals his terrible love of and for Lolita. The writing is marvelous, if at times confusing (which is most likely intentional and keeping with the plot). Although I hate to admit it, Humbert Humbert makes a surprisingly sympathetic character, at least in the beginning. As the book progresses, and as does his obsession, he provokes less understanding and more apprehension. The reader is brought along on the terrible journey as he ruins both his and her lives, driving her away and leaving behind his own sanity. This was a difficult book for me to read because it touched upon my personal life in a variety of ways, but it was ultimately worth it. In fact, I plan to read it again at some point. Throughout the novel, Nabokov has sprinkled literary allusions (many of which I probably missed) and phrases in French (which I couldn't read, but mostly got the gist). I've purchased The Annotated Lolita for my next reading (whenever that may be) as it translates the French phrases in addition to other annotations which I am sure I will find helpful. Despite the humor that is interspersed throughout the novel, it is ultimately a rather depressing story. Experiments in Reading

[jonfaith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was younger, see, there was this guy, named sean garrison, he was from he Ozarks, he was in Louisville and he was a just man, without a doubt. He once said he would fight anyone over the merit of Hank Williams or Robert Johnson. I feel the same about Lolita.

[jessinikkip · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Really this was a terrible book about a terrible subject told by a terrible man using really pretty language.

[lamour_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a famous novel I have avoided for many years for various reasons including the subject matter and what I had thought would be written in a complicated, heavy prose. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a very readable piece of fiction. The subject matter was still difficult,I decided to tackle it after reading Sarah Weinman's " The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World". Weinman is convinced that Nabokov used Sally Horner's ordeal to finish his novel and maybe justify writing it and having it published. Sally and her kidnapper are mentioned in the Nabokov novel.Why didn't Dolly (Lolita) flee her kidnapper? Maybe fear of what he would do if he caught her. Would she be believed? Sally Horner did not flee her kidnapper until a friend in a trailer park convinced her to make the phone call to her mother for the same reasons. It may be tough to understand but when you are under control of a powerful person who has fed you stories about not being wanted by you mother, it is not so difficult to understand how these episodes went on so long.

[margaretfield · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

amazing story of a pedophile and his impact on one girl; painful, meaningful. if you want to see even more layers also read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi Holy Shit

[stephlaymon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A lot of readers have avoided Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov because it is written from a pedophile's perspective, and I have to admit that I would have certainly have passed up reading it if I wasn't expecting something much different. It turns out that I love Lolita. One of the best things about reading is that you don't have to agree with a characters morals, or lack there of, in order to learn, grow, and enjoy a book. In this case, Humbert is more than immoral, he is dark, twisted, and quite obviously mentally ill. Which is why I allowed myself to love this book as much as I do. Nabokov quite obviously wasn't trying to pass Humbert off as someone who simply had a lifestyle preference, but instead puts the reader in the head of a seriously deranged predator. As a long time child advocate, and someone who has worked in a field where I saw first hand the effects of sexual abuse, I have to say that I am amazed at Nabokov's ability to get it so right. He gets it so right in fact, that I was almost convinced that he might have been a pedophile himself, but that would be grossly unfair for me to make such an assumption, because honestly, he nailed writing the character of Lolita, the victim, and her behavior. Which is all very impressive for a book that was penned in a time when the cycle of sexual abuse was less discussed, and thus less known than it is even today.You know what else I loved? The way that the author doesn't treat his reader like a ninny. He has this wonderful way of making suggestions and allowing the reader to understand via crafty writing.Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is a remarkable book that has the capability of making the reader see past preconceived notions and the fear of liking something that feels like maybe one shouldn't.

[valnewhope · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written but very disturbing. Language and structure were excellent. But, I wouldn't want to read it again. As a book, excellent, but can't say that I "liked it" .

[jamiebh-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Obviously the subject matter of this book is controversial and not the most comfortable to be reading but I will credit Nabokov's brilliant ability to write. I felt like his writing style purposely moved with the main character which means by the end it was incredibly scattered and erratic. If I wasn't in the middle of Bar prep I probably would have appreciated the complex writing but I honestly struggled to finish it.

[kristelh_15 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Humbert Humbert is a depraved middle aged man who is interested in his stepdaughter. There is much to be disgusted about but Nabakov grabs you with his writing. A master in using words as a game.

[sometimeunderwater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Maddens as much as it delights, but still a deserving classic.

[bahiyya_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Just...Wow.

[mindypfeiffer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a word...fascinating.

[dianeofsevilla · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lovely, eerie, discomforting.

[jess_reads_books · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged college professor looking to make a change in his life after losing who he believes is the love of his life. He makes a decision to move to a new town, however, his plans are thwarted because of a fire and he ends up at the Haze household. Mrs. Haze is a widow living with her twelve-year old daughter, Dolores. Humbert instantly works his way into the good graces of the lady of the house, but we soon find that he has an ulterior motive.What Mrs. Haze and those living around Humbert don't realize is that he is sexually attracted to young girls, who he affectionately refers to as nymphets. He has his sights set on Dolores, whom he nicknames Lolita, and instantly begins plotting ways to get closer to her. Humbert is willing to do anything, regardless of how criminal, to make Lolita his. Is Humbert actually in love with Lolita or is he an insane man? Will anyone be able to put a stop to Humbert?Vladimir Nabokov's LOLITA is considered a classic because of the way it makes the reader question the unreliable narrator of Humbert Humbert. The reader must determine if they are first comfortable with the subject matter they are reading about and then judge the man telling the tale. Humbert so desperately wants the reader to be on his side and is constantly trying to convince this "jury" of readers that he truly is just a man in love and that no one should judge his desires for such a young girl, after all many years before it was a common societal practice for girls of Lolita's age to be married. Nabokov's writing style is of an autobiographical nature, which gives the reader a look into the inner workings of Humbert's mind and his ability to justify his desires. Despite centering around a criminal act, Nabokov is able to construct a gripping, vivid, and brilliantly written novel about the darker side of human nature.

[reluctanttechie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had urged my Bookclub to read this classic since I was curious. I must confess that I was disappointed in the book. The author was difficult to follow and left me confused about what was happening in the story. He threw in a lot of French and even had me looking up words in the English dictionary. I could have looked up a lot more, but just got lazy.He wrote long paragraphs and detailed descriptions of places, some of which might be considered beautiful. It was difficult to read. However, I was glad when I finally came to the end. My Bookclub is going to pounce on me next week for suggesting this one.

[1greenprof · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was uncertain about reading this book...concerned about prurient interests and such, but I wanted to both see what the fuss was about, and to decide for myself what I felt about Nabokov. As it turns out, in my opinion, this book deserves its status as seminal literature, and not just pulp pornography.

Nabokov's use of language is exquisite...just read a few passages...he puts most modern writers to shame as he uses just the right words to paint his very delicate and dangerous picture. He paints neither Humbert nor Lola as saints...nor should he. He develops the characters, shows their growth and their diminuition. In the end we are left with tragic figures whose lives were cast by the journey they took.

This is classic literature that should be read by more.

[maneekuhi · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

What is it with Russian authors? Why three page paragraphs? Paragraphs that drone on and on. Paragraphs are supposed to contain one main concept, a single point or thought. Well, guess what - the Russians do in fact follow this convention, they just keep repeating and repeating that single thought, twisting words and stirring in other idealets; it's all part of an insidious plot to put readers asleep. And they are succeeding. I had just put down Dostoevsky's "Brothers Karamozov" after drowsing through a mere 300 of its 777 pages. I expected something quite different from Nabokov, but NO! Don't believe it? Peruse the book before purchase - note a smattering of dialogue in the first and last 50 pages. The bridge between the two is Humbert Humbert's musings on everything that has happened, is happening or will happen.I can remember that I was still a teen when the first movie version (James Mason, Sue Lyons, Peter Sellers) came out in 1962. I may not have been aware there was a book that inspired the whole thing. Anyway I wasn't allowed to see the movie for years and by then I had lost interest. The book was first published in 1955 in Paris (American publishers declined until 1958; see Nabakov's interesting comments in the Author's note). Word amongst my teen friends was that it was dirty (snicker).The story is about a pedophile in late 1940's America. While searching for a room in a rather small town, Humbert Humbert comes across a young widow and her 12 year old daughter. There are 50 things wrong with the living accommodations, including the widow, but nothing wrong with the daughter, a nymphet of immaculate beauty. He stays, and secures his position not only via monthly rent, but with an affirmative response to the widow's invitation to marry. The seduction begins, although it's not clear who is seducing whom. Conveniently, the widow dies in a rather funny way and the seducing continues on a lengthy USA road trip. As you might expect, the story does not have a happy ending.I got through it. It had its ups and downs. As if long long paragraphs weren't bad enough, apparently Russian Nabokov decided he would teach his readers some English vocabulary and French along the way. Open the book to page 162 or so and you will espy "coeval", "pavonine" and "oculate". How's your French? Better be good, there's a lot of it here. Translation? Obvious context? Non. "Ce qui me rend folle, c'est que je ne sais a quoi tu penses quand tu es comme ca." I apologize if that's naughty- I really don't know. I suppose the justification for all the French is that it serves as a reminder to us that HH is European, and a hint that maybe Europeans look upon some behaviors a bit differently than those of us in the colonies.Well, is it......hot? No. Titallating? No. Graphic? No. Actually, it feels a bit creepy. I don't think the years (60+) have been kind to "Lolita". Maybe I'll go back to Tolstoy.....

[calavari · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lolita I loved it. I had always assumed that I would hate it, knowing that it was about an older man taking advantage of a very young girl. What I hadn't realized was that it is a book knowingly written from the villain's point of view. I had thought it would be all excuses and romanticism. That stuff is there, sure, but thinly veiled so that the read may hear HH's excuses to himself and still see right through them. Unfortunately, I do also recognize how parts could easily be represented as Lolita's complicity in her situation, but these would fail to take into consideration either her initial naivete (which many girls that young have had about older men), her recognition of a situation that is quite hopeless, or the significant possibility of Stockholm's syndrome. Of course, there is also the fact that HH is writing in the first person and everything about her is therefore subject to his interpretation. The challenge of the book, and part of its genius perhaps, is seeing Lolita herself outside of his interpretation. It makes me want to see the movie and how the actress interprets Lolita's actions. I've read other books by men that are associated more with the way women are perceived by them then women actually are (Great Expectations and The Great Gatsby for starters) that should do the same thing but I had unfortunately not gone into those prepared for their intentional misrepresentation of my gender and hated them on the first read. (I do owe both a reread since I was told the opinion on it that the women were intentionally written the way they were to point out some men's lack of realization that we are in fact fully three dimensional beings) I do hate the definition and use of the word "nymphet" in practical use but I get why the author included it. I thought it really helped deliver the delusional nature of Humbert's vision of Lolita and the way he romanticized and lusted after girls that were far too young. I did, however, appreciate the inclusion of Humbert's background and some notable things within it. Specifically, those things are the lapses in mental health, his attempts at staying within decency, and his prior love, Annabel. I don't know enough about psychology to have an informed opinion on whether her death really contributed to his affinity for young girls but it made an interesting hypothesis on the part of the afflicted. It was interesting, and super creepy, to see the way his ability to control Lolita's life played into both his hunger for her and many of her responses to him. The progression of their "relationship" was again mostly creepy but interesting in that way we only can be in fiction when it's not real people that are being hurt. His power over her made him increasingly tyrannical as power has been historically shown to do. The whole story climaxes in such a way that is so consistent with the character's personalities and strangely satisfying in it's own way. I'd rather not spoil it, though anyone could easily look up the whole synopsis on Wikipedia if interested, it's linked about anyway. I listened to a copy from the library that was read by Jeremy Irons who also played the protagonist in the 1997 film. I had finally picked it up to listen to as my hold on Reading Lolita in Tehran finally came through, which is also proving to be a great book and gave me some necessary insight into Nabokov's writing style and Humbert's character.

[ssimon2000-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Can't do it. Vile. Offensive. Obscene. DNF.

[jesstheactress · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favourite book.

[eagletusk · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

couldn't finish it.

[sonorandreamer-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was a difficult book to read. Somehow it makes the sexual abuse of children not seem as horrific as it is. I read it many years ago and still feel negatively effected by it. Just knowing that there are many men in the world like this makes me hate the culture we live in even more.

[charlotte1162 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An extremely well-written book but a sensitive topic and many uncomfortable moments throughout.

[lara335 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Many years ago as a young teenage girl I read this and at the time enjoyed the sauciness of the story, and the depiction of Lolita as sulky, knowing & bored - made a welcome change to the goody-two- shoes characters of the Secret Seven children.. Over 40 years later I'm reading a very different book. Narrated as it is by a predatory middle-aged paedophile who kidnaps his landlady's 12 year old daughter and takes her on a 2-year road trip, keeping her with threats and bribes, aware that she cries every single night.Educated, superior Humbert's life descends into nightmarish paranoia.A novel full of black humour and wordplay, though the middle part did seem overlong and tedious. And for once, perhaps the subject-matter is even more shocking today than when it was first published.

[leonardgmokos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Among the 10 greatest novels of all time, not least for the magnificent Master, Nabokov, using the written word like a duellist worthy of Zorro.
Linge, parry, thrust - touche!

[lidbud · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is probably my favourite book of all time. Horrifying, creepy and utterly, utterly wonderful.

[cecrow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The famous story of a pedophile, told in first-person. The effect of Nabokov's prose is to convince us these are the true confessions of a man who experiences these sensations and desires. Humbert is not susceptible to anyone's shattering his illusions, since he is already fully aware of what he is doing: "What I had madly possessed was not she, but my own creation, another, fanciful Lolita - perhaps, more real than Lolita; overlapping, encasing her; floating between me and her, and having no will, no consciousness - indeed, no life of her own." This is not merely a false perception liable to be toppled; he considers it a skill he has developed, an aptitude for knowing a 'nymphet' when he sees one. Humbert's rationalizations, his defiance, his bitterness, are those of a man who believes his desire is natural and beyond his control. While he freely attaches negative adjectives to himself, the tone conveys that in his view he is not morally at fault. Even when likening himself to a spider he does it in a prideful way, not self-disparaging. His belief that he is persecuted unfairly is a key part of the story as he constantly insinuates that others have their own sins, standing on no higher moral ground than himself. Humbert reads the fortuitous (for him) events that occur as indication that fate condoned his pursuit of Lolita. One of his lowest moments occurs when he has a passing thought about assuming the true role of a father and then dismisses it as so much fancy, like a better man in a moment of anger might briefly imagine and dismiss an act of violence. If you were to strip this story down to its bare bones, the plot reads preposterously in light of coincidences and lucky breaks, especially regarding Charlotte. But Nabokov makes it work so well through his narration that you'll hardly bat an eye, even appreciate it as "wildly funny" perhaps (so says Time magazine). It can only be funny because we are never inside Lolita's head. I believe she engaged in relations with Humbert as a lark, but regretted this when it became a lifestyle she couldn't retreat from. The blessing is that she never saw him as a father figure, despite his playing that role in their charade with others, and seems to rise above their time together without having been shattered. This doesn't suggest as realistic a portrayal of the victim as of the perpetrator, but even Humbert is not certain what effect he's had on her. She remains an disturbing enigma I'm not certain whether to pity or respect. I think I should feel both.