Vladimir Nabokov American writer of Russian origin Date of Birth: 23.04.1899 Country: USA

1. A Brilliant Stylist with an Incomparable Childhood
2. A Love-Hate Relationship with Russia
3. A Childhood in Luxury and Strife
4. An Obsession with Butterflies
5. Lolita: The Ultimate Butterfly
6. A Chess Master and Literary Innovator
7. Russian Heritage, Despite Distance
8. A Lost Russia
9. Beyond the Grave

A Brilliant Stylist with an Incomparable Childhood

Vladimir Nabokov, an American writer of Russian origin, possessed a dazzling writing style that some might consider excessive, akin to the gleaming surgical instruments on a cold marble table in an operating room. His work resembles the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, its roots drawing sustenance not from native soil but from the very air itself, which knows no boundaries.

A Love-Hate Relationship with Russia

In the Russian version of Nabokov's memoir, "Other Shores" (1954), a poignant passage reveals his complex feelings towards Russia: "My long-standing disagreement with the Soviet dictatorship is in no way related to material concerns. I despise the Russian 'zubr' who hates the communists because, apparently, they stole his money and tithes. My longing for my homeland is merely an exaggerated form of nostalgia for my lost childhood."

He further asserts, "I reserve the right to yearn for an ecological niche—to sigh for northern Russia amidst the mountains of America." In this passage, Nabokov places his longing for his homeland above politics, questioning whether politics is truly worth the pain such longing entails.

A Childhood in Luxury and Strife

Nabokov's childhood, spent in the countryside estates of Batovo, Rozhdestveno, and Vyra, and the opulent mansion on Bolshaya Morskaya in St. Petersburg, left an indelible mark on his writing. Despite his father's unwavering political opposition to the Soviet regime, which led to prison sentences and exile, Nabokov's memories of childhood remain fond and vibrant, filled with the evocative scents of his father's cigarettes, pine cones crackling in the samovar, and apples scattered along the path, their aroma mingling with the earthy smell of horse manure.

An Obsession with Butterflies

The ornate Dutch stove in the Nabokov mansion, its tiles adorned with vibrant butterflies, sparked a lifelong fascination in young Vladimir. The intricate beauty of their delicate wings and the mystery hidden within their enigmatic souls captivated him. Later, as an avid butterfly collector, Nabokov would chase after them with a passion, capturing their ephemeral beauty on pages of writing. This pursuit of the elusive mirrored his complex relationship with desire and the inevitable connection between possession and mortality.

Lolita: The Ultimate Butterfly

The eponymous character in Nabokov's most famous work, "Lolita," represents the ultimate butterfly. Her transformation from adolescence to pregnancy and eventual demise parallels the cycle of a butterfly's life. Nabokov's genius lay in capturing this metamorphosis, ensnaring Lolita in the silken net of his prose and immortalizing her on countless pages, exposing the dark, voyeuristic impulses that lurk beneath society's veneer of morality.

A Chess Master and Literary Innovator

Beyond his prowess as an entomologist, Nabokov was also a skilled chess composer. His strategies in both chess and writing were characterized by meticulous calculation and strategic manipulation. He orchestrated the success of "Lolita" by leveraging its scandalous nature and translating it into multiple languages, casting his literary net across the globe.

Russian Heritage, Despite Distance

Nabokov's insistence that he had no interest in Russia's fate or the fate of his books within its borders seems at odds with the time and effort he invested in translating "Lolita" into Russian. While he may have calculated the commercial benefits of doing so, the depth of emotion evident in certain passages suggests genuine inspiration.

His four-volume sublinear translation of "Eugene Onegin" with invaluable commentary, his masterful rendering of "Mozart and Salieri," and his English translation of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" all speak to a deep connection to his Russian heritage, which he could not entirely sever.

A Lost Russia

In the poem "To Russia," Nabokov's yearning is palpable in the opening line: "Let go, I beg you!" His poem "Execution," a testament to his despairing love for his lost homeland, reveals the depths of his anguish.

In his later years, Nabokov reflected on what might have been had he remained in Russia: "It's a shame I didn't stay in Russia, didn't emigrate." His wife countered, "But you would have certainly rotted in their camps." Nabokov paused and replied, "Who knows, maybe I would have survived. But then I would have become a completely different writer, and perhaps much better."

Beyond the Grave

Nabokov's literary legacy knows no boundaries, as aptly expressed in his own words: "...the shadow of a Russian branch / will waver / on the marble of my hand." His writing continues to inspire and provoke, a testament to his unwavering passion, brilliant style, and the enduring power of his Russian roots.