Book cover of The Real Life of Sebastian Knight

Book description

"Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically." -- John Updike

The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a perversely magical literary detective story -- subtle, intricate, leading to a tantalizing climax -- about the mysterious life of a famous writer. Many people knew things…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Real Life of Sebastian Knight as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was completely bewitched by Nabokov’s language in the book–it’s sarcastic, funny, even hilarious, but it sowed deep the seeds of pathos that brought a faint pain to my heart. I read many paragraphs over a couple of times, but still felt I couldn’t get enough out of his sentences with layers of hidden meaning, intention, etc.

The book enchanted me while leaving me a bitter aftertaste, just like love sometimes is a double-edged treasure that makes you laugh and cry.

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Ophelia, a professor of Dante, is stricken when she discovers that her husband Andy has been cheating on her with a winsome colleague. What follows is Ophelia’s figurative descent into hell as she obsessively tracks her subjects, performs surveillance in her beat-up Volvo, and moves into the property next door…

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