About the book
\"Nabokov's last metafictive parable. . . . One of the most interesting short stories Nabokov never wrote.\" —San Francisco Chronicle
When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left instructions for his heirs to burn the 138 hand-written index cards that made up the rough draft of his final and unfinished novel, The Original of Laura. But Nabokov's wife, Vera, could not bear to destroy her husband's last work, and when she died, the fate of the manuscript fell to her son. Dmitri Nabokov’s decision finally to allow publication of the fragmented narrative—dark yet playful, preoccupied with mortality—affords us one last experience of Nabokov's magnificent creativity, the quintessence of his unparalleled body of work.
“Bits and pieces of Laura will beckon and beguile Nabokov fans, who will find many of the author’s perennial themes and obsessions percolating through the story of Philip.... In these pages readers will find bright flashes of Nabokovian wordplay and surreal, Magritte-like descriptions.\" —The New York Times
\"A unique chance to see the master out of control. . . . It's like seeing an unfinished Michelangelo sculpture--one of those rough, half-formed giants straining to step out of its marble block. It's even more powerful, to a different part of the brain, than the polish of a David or a Lolita.\" —New York magazine
Editions of The Original of Laura
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780307271891
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780307472854
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780307592750
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307273253
Read an Excerpt
\"Nabokov's last metafictive parable. . . . One of the most interesting short stories Nabokov never wrote.\" —San Francisco Chronicle
When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left instructions for his heirs to burn the 138 hand-written index cards that made up the rough draft of his final and unfinished novel, The Original of Laura. But Nabokov's wife, Vera, could not bear to destroy her husband's last work, and when she died, the fate of the manuscript fell to her son. Dmitri Nabokov’s decision finally to allow publication of the fragmented narrative—dark yet playful, preoccupied with mortality—affords us one last experience of Nabokov's magnificent creativity, the quintessence of his unparalleled body of work.
“Bits and pieces of Laura will beckon and beguile Nabokov fans, who will find many of the author’s perennial themes and obsessions percolating through the story of Philip.... In these pages readers will find bright flashes of Nabokovian wordplay and surreal, Magritte-like descriptions.\" —The New York Times
\"A unique chance to see the master out of control. . . . It's like seeing an unfinished Michelangelo sculpture--one of those rough, half-formed giants straining to step out of its marble block. It's even more powerful, to a different part of the brain, than the polish of a David or a Lolita.\" —New York magazine
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Original of Laura about?
\"Nabokov's last metafictive parable. . . . One of the most interesting short stories Nabokov never wrote.\" —San Francisco Chronicle
When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left instructions for his heirs to burn the 138 hand-written index cards that made up the rough draft of his final and unfinished novel, The Original of Laura. But Nabokov's wife, Vera, could not bear to destroy her husband's last work, and when she died, the fate of the manuscript fell to her son. Dmitri Nabokov’s decision finally to allow publication of the fragmented narrative—dark yet playful, preoccupied with mortality—affords us one last experience of Nabokov's magnificent creativity, the quintessence of his unparalleled body of work.
“Bits and pieces of Laura will beckon and beguile Nabokov fans, who will find many of the author’s perennial themes and obsessions percolating through the story of Philip.... In these pages readers will find bright flashes of Nabokovian wordplay and surreal, Magritte-like descriptions.\" —The New York Times
\"A unique chance to see the master out of control. . . . It's like seeing an unfinished Michelangelo sculpture--one of those rough, half-formed giants straining to step out of its marble block. It's even more powerful, to a different part of the brain, than the polish of a David or a Lolita.\" —New York magazine
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Original of Laura?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of The Original of Laura?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780307271891
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Original of Laura?
Dmitri Nabokov, Vladimir Nabokov
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Original of Laura is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780307271891) and paperback(ISBN 9780307472854) and altformat(ISBN 9780307592750) and ebook(ISBN 9780307273253)
Where can I buy The Original of Laura online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Original of Laura from below
Where can I buy The Original of Laura?