About the book
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
The urbane authority that Vladimir Nabokov brought to every word he ever wrote, and the ironic amusement he cultivated in response to being uprooted and politically exiled twice in his life, never found fuller expression than in Pale Fire published in 1962 after the critical and popular success of Lolita had made him an international literary figure.
An ingeniously constructed parody of detective fiction and learned commentary, Pale Fire offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures, at the center of which is a 999-line poem written by the literary genius John Shade just before his death. Surrounding the poem is a foreword and commentary by the demented scholar Charles Kinbote, who interweaves adoring literary analysis with the fantastical tale of an assassin from the land of Zembla in pursuit of a deposed king. Brilliantly constructed and wildly inventive, this darkly witty novel of suspense, literary one-upmanship, and political intrigue achieves that rarest of things in literature–perfect tragicomic balance. With an introduction by Richard Rorty.
Editions of Pale Fire
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780679410775
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780679723424
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307787651
Read an Excerpt
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
The urbane authority that Vladimir Nabokov brought to every word he ever wrote, and the ironic amusement he cultivated in response to being uprooted and politically exiled twice in his life, never found fuller expression than in Pale Fire published in 1962 after the critical and popular success of Lolita had made him an international literary figure.
An ingeniously constructed parody of detective fiction and learned commentary, Pale Fire offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures, at the center of which is a 999-line poem written by the literary genius John Shade just before his death. Surrounding the poem is a foreword and commentary by the demented scholar Charles Kinbote, who interweaves adoring literary analysis with the fantastical tale of an assassin from the land of Zembla in pursuit of a deposed king. Brilliantly constructed and wildly inventive, this darkly witty novel of suspense, literary one-upmanship, and political intrigue achieves that rarest of things in literature–perfect tragicomic balance. With an introduction by Richard Rorty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pale Fire about?
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
The urbane authority that Vladimir Nabokov brought to every word he ever wrote, and the ironic amusement he cultivated in response to being uprooted and politically exiled twice in his life, never found fuller expression than in Pale Fire published in 1962 after the critical and popular success of Lolita had made him an international literary figure.
An ingeniously constructed parody of detective fiction and learned commentary, Pale Fire offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures, at the center of which is a 999-line poem written by the literary genius John Shade just before his death. Surrounding the poem is a foreword and commentary by the demented scholar Charles Kinbote, who interweaves adoring literary analysis with the fantastical tale of an assassin from the land of Zembla in pursuit of a deposed king. Brilliantly constructed and wildly inventive, this darkly witty novel of suspense, literary one-upmanship, and political intrigue achieves that rarest of things in literature–perfect tragicomic balance. With an introduction by Richard Rorty.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Pale Fire?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Pale Fire?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780679410775
Is Pale Fire part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Pale Fire?
Vladimir Nabokov
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Pale Fire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780679410775) and paperback(ISBN 9780679723424) and ebook(ISBN 9780307787651)
Where can I buy Pale Fire online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Pale Fire?