Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita cover
Good Books rating 4.44
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £8.99–£13.95 Hardback • £16.99
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  • ID: 5492
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2026-02-03
  • ISBN: 9780307744029
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Published: 2010-08-24
  • Formats: 17
  • Reviews: 4

Lolita is a provocative and deeply unsettling novel that delves into the mind of Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man consumed by his obsession with the twelve-year-old Dolores Haze. The story is a chilling exploration of love as both a destructive force and a transformative experience, told with a blend of dark humor and mordant wit. The novel also serves as a critique of American culture and the clash between European sophistication and American barbarism. /n/n Vladimir Nabokov's masterpiece is not just a story of obsession but a meditation on the nature of desire, the corrupting influence of power, and the complexities of human relationships. The novel's controversial themes and controversial narrative have sparked endless debate and discussion, cementing its place as one of the most significant and controversial works of the 20th century.

Reviews
Reddit - Books · u/x9uits · 2021-01-01
haunting 4.50

It's a horrifying book that explores the banality of evil, intergenerational guilt, and responsibility. The narrative is both haunting and thought-provoking.

The reviewer finds Lolita to be a horrifying yet insightful exploration of evil and guilt. They appreciate the book's ability to delve into the complexities of human nature and the consequences of actions. The narrative is described as haunting and thought-provoking, making it a memorable and impactful read. The reviewer also notes that the book's controversial themes add to its depth, making it a significant and challenging work. They highlight the book's ability to make the reader question their own perceptions of morality and responsibility.

Quick quotes

    It's a horrifying book, in many ways, both as an insight into the banality of evil, the intergenerational guilt, responsibility, memory, and as a haunting tale.

    The narrative is both haunting and thought-provoking.

    It's a significant and challenging work that makes the reader question their own perceptions of morality and responsibility.

The Guardian · 2016-03-01
disturbing 4.00

The book is not a tragic love story but a tale of a middle-aged man taking advantage of a young girl. It challenges the reader's perspective on innocence and criminality.

The reviewer emphasizes that Lolita is not a romantic tale but a disturbing narrative of exploitation. They highlight how Nabokov's writing forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about power and vulnerability. The book's complexity lies in its ability to make the reader question their own perceptions of the story and its characters. The reviewer appreciates the boldness of the narrative, which refuses to romanticize the events, making it a powerful and unsettling read.

Quick quotes

    The book is not a tragic love story about a forbidden relationship, it is about how a middle-aged man repeatedly took advantage of a young girl.

    It challenges the reader's perspective on innocence and criminality.

    Nabokov's writing forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about power and vulnerability.

The Book Habit · 2013-08-08
masterpiece 5.00

This is one of the greatest works ever written, blending a love story with scandal and painting a blurred picture of innocence and criminality.

The reviewer considers Lolita a masterpiece, praising its intricate narrative and the way it blends elements of love and scandal. They highlight the book's ability to create a complex portrait of innocence and criminality, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the characters and the richness of the prose, which contribute to the book's enduring appeal. They also note that the book's controversial themes add to its impact, making it a memorable and significant work of literature.

Quick quotes

    This is truly one of the greatest works ever written.

    It is a love story and a scandal, it paints a blurred picture of innocence and criminality.

    It blends the beauty of language with the darkness of its subject matter.

The New Yorker · 1958-11-08
unsettling 4.25

Nabokov's restrained and witty chronicle of a man's lust for a child is both monstrous and understandable.

The reviewer notes that Lolita is a restrained and witty exploration of a taboo subject. They acknowledge the monstrous nature of the protagonist's desires but also the complexity of his character. The reviewer appreciates Nabokov's ability to make the reader both condemn and empathize with Humbert Humbert, creating a deeply unsettling yet compelling narrative. The novel is seen as a masterful examination of human psychology and the darker aspects of desire.

Quick quotes

    Nabokov's restrained and witty chronicle of the lust of a man for a child.

    Such a lust, it must be admitted, is monstrous.

    But it must also be understood that the novel is a profound exploration of human nature.

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