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The Defense
The Defense
Author: Vladimir Nabokov
Nabokov's third novel, The Defense, is a chilling story of obsession and madness. As a young boy, Luzhin was unattractive, distracted, withdrawn, sullen--an enigma to his parents and an object of ridicule to his classmates. He takes up chess as a refuge from the anxiety of his everyday life. His talent is prodigious and he rises to the rank of g...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780679727224
ISBN-10: 0679727221
Publication Date: 8/11/1990
Pages: 272
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 5

4.2 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
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reviewed The Defense on + 52 more book reviews
Excellent. Fiction about chess, Nabokov...How can you go wrong.
reviewed The Defense on + 53 more book reviews
This is the third novel written by Nabokov after he had emigrated to Berlin. It was published in 1930 but not Englished until 1964 by Michael Scammell in collaboration with the author. Since, in many respects, Nabokov's stories are more about style and sense impressions than stories or characters, the way I read a Nabokov novel is to immerse myself in the rich and powerful language. Lose myself in its sounds and rhythms even in a translation (at least N. had a hand in this one), revel in the detailed descriptions and the images. Not as hard as Faulkner, but reading it twice yields rewards (i.e., grokking things missed the first time).


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