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‘King, Queen, Knave’ represents the first flowering of Nabokov’s genius, the petals of which fall deciduously and deliriously throughout the novel. From Franz’s impressions of Berlin as a whirlwind of colours after he loses his glasses, to the little details only Nabokov is able to imbue his novels with, to the farcical and solipsistic characters, hopelessly tangled up in the web the writer, who twice makes and appearance, weaves around the novel, entrapped by the caprices of their creator. In m
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Definitely not one of Nabokov's best. I do not know if it's the clunkiness imparted to it by the translation but this one just doesn't make the grade for me. I am a huge Nabokophile having read almost all his works (except for Ada, which is on my bookshelf).
The plot just seems to drag on and on and on and the conclusion is highly unsatisfactory. Coupled with that are the addition of a couple of gimmicky characters and plot asides which add nothing either to the story, or as Nabokov would have ha ...more
The plot just seems to drag on and on and on and the conclusion is highly unsatisfactory. Coupled with that are the addition of a couple of gimmicky characters and plot asides which add nothing either to the story, or as Nabokov would have ha ...more
Probably my second favourite Nabokov Russian novel after Despair . Almost gave it five stars (it is really 4 and a half) but settled for four at the last minute. This novel sets up the black triumvirate of characters that will manifest itself in many later Nabokov novels like Despair , Laughter in the Dark , Pale Fire , Ada and of course, Lolita . The quality of the prose is much improved from Mary and one can definitely begin to see Nabokov's growing dislike of Germany. Nabokov critiqu
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May 22, 2013
George
is currently reading it
Apr 13, 2018
Suki St Charles
marked it as to-read
