RUSSIA: Vladimir Nabokov's last book goes on sale in Russian bookstores following his son's decision to publish

Record ID: 755506

  • Title: RUSSIA: Vladimir Nabokov's last book goes on sale in Russian bookstores following his son's decision to publish
  • Date: 3rd December 2009
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 30, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BOOKSTORE 'DOM KNIGI' MAN LOOKING IN WINDOW DISPLAY OF BOOKSTORE MAIN ENTRANCE OF BOOKSTORE, PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE SIGN OVER DOOR 'MOSCOW - MY FAVOURITE BOOK STORE' INTERIOR OF BOOKSTORE EMPLOYEE PUTTING STICKERS ON BOOK COVER CLOSE UP OF EMPLOYEE PUTTING A STICKER ON BOOK COVER "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" EMPLOYEE PLACING BOOK ON THE SHELF CASH REGISTERS, PERSON PURCHASING A BOOK CLOSE UP OF "THE ORIGINAS OF LAURA" BOOK MAN LOOKING AT SIGN FOR NABOKOV'S NEW NOVEL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) FEMALE CUSTOMER MARINA SAYS, (ANSWERING REPORTER'S QUESTION 'WHY DID YOU BUY IT?'): "Because he properly writes in Russian. Because right now, it's rare that you can read something that will make you think." MAN LOOKING AT "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" BACK COVER WOMAN PURCHASING BOOKS, INCLUDING "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" A ROW OF "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" ON BOOKSHELVES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MARKETING MANAGER AT BOOKSTORE "MOSKVA" MARIA NENAHOVA SAYS "Vladimir Nabokov is a cult name, not only for Russian literature but world literature. This a writer on a global scale. So many years after his death comes out an unpublished novel of his, of course it's a historical event in literature. We can say that Vladmir Nabokov is a complicated writer, on one side, if we're talking about not just reading, but reading with an understanding of what the author's imput in his creation. Maybe that's why his audiences didn't rush out in masses to purchase the book, as some other best-sellers of Boris Akunin or Dan Brown." TWO WOMEN LOOKING A BOOK TWO BOOKS STANDING ON A SHELF "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" EMPLOYEE STACKING "THE ORIGINS OF LAURA" ON A SHELF "THE WHOLE WORLD WAITED IMPATIENTLY FOR THE UNKNOWN NOVEL OF VLADIMIR NABOKOV" SIGN MAN LOOKING AT STACK OF BOOKS
  • Embargoed: 18th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA63T9XI31W9S6FZWMZXCYY0DIJ
  • Story Text: Thirty-two years after Vladimir Nabokov passed away, leaving an unfinished manuscript, the work was released in Russian bookstores on Monday (November 30).
    Publication of Nabokov's "The Origins of Laura" lays to rest a dilemma lasting decades over Nabokov's wishes to not have the novel published.
    Prior to his death, Nabokov instructed his wife to burn the 138 cards he used as a blueprint for the manuscript. She neither destroyed the work, nor allowed its publication and the dilemma of what to do with Nabokov's last novel passed to his son, Dmitry when she died in 1991.
    Turning 75 pushed Dmitry to allow the unfinished last novel 'The Original of Laura' to be published, much to the delight of the author's fans.
    In Moscow's 'Dom Knigi' Marina bought a copy early on Monday, because she said she loved Nabokov's work.
    "Because he properly writes in Russian. Because right now, it's rare that you can read something that will make you think," she said, holding her new copy of the book.
    Vladimir Nabokov was born in St Petersburg but his family fled after the Bolshevik revolution and he lived his adult life in Germany and USA. He gained notoriety world wide as a bi-lingual writer, publishing novels in Russian and English.
    "Vladimir Nabokov is a cult name, not only for Russian literature but world literature. This a writer on a global scale. So many years after his death comes out an unpublished novel of his, of course it's a historical event in literature. We can say that Vladmir Nabokov is a complicated writer, on one side, if we're talking about not just reading, but reading with an understanding of what the author's imput in his creation. Maybe that's why his audiences didn't rush out in masses to purchase the book, as some other best-sellers of Boris Akunin or Dan Brown," explained Maria Nenahova, a marketing manager at 'Dom Knigi', one of the biggest book stores in the Russian capital.
    The English edition was published on November 22nd, with the Russian version being released November 30th, with an official presentation at St Petersburg Nabokov Museum.
    Christie's in New York will auction the 138 cards with Nabokov's manuscript of The Original of Laura on December 4, aiming to fetch a price estimated at 400,000-600,000 U.S. dollars (240,000-360,000 British pounds).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register