The darkly comic Transparent Things, one of Nabokov's final books, traces the bleak life of Hugh Person through murder, madness, prison and trips to Switzerland. One of these was the last journey his father ever took; on another, having been sent to ingratiate himself with a distinguished novelist, he met his future wife. Nabokov's brilliant short novel sinks into the transparent things of the world that surround this one Person, to the silent histories they carry. Remarkable even in Nabokov's work for its depth and ...
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The darkly comic Transparent Things, one of Nabokov's final books, traces the bleak life of Hugh Person through murder, madness, prison and trips to Switzerland. One of these was the last journey his father ever took; on another, having been sent to ingratiate himself with a distinguished novelist, he met his future wife. Nabokov's brilliant short novel sinks into the transparent things of the world that surround this one Person, to the silent histories they carry. Remarkable even in Nabokov's work for its depth and lyricism, Transparent Things is a small, experimental marvel of memories and dreams, both sentimental and malign.
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Add this copy of Transparent Things to cart. $18.18, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by Penguin Classics.
Add this copy of Transparent Things to cart. $18.20, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by Penguin Classics.
Add this copy of Transparent Things to cart. $21.87, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2011 by Penguin Classics.
Add this copy of Transparent Things to cart. $22.37, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2011 by Penguin Classics.
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Seller's Description:
New. Traces the bleak life of Hugh Person through murder, madness, prison and trips to Switzerland. This novel sinks into the transparent things of the world that surround this one Person, to the silent histories they carry. Series: Penguin Modern Classics. Num Pages: 112 pages. BIC Classification: FC. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 197 x 129 x 9. Weight in Grams: 126. 2011. Paperback.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
This, one of Nabokov's lesser known works, is also perhaps one of his most bizarre. The story revolves around the main character, Hugh Person, and his four vacations in Sweden. Each is marred by tragedy and supplemented with comedy. Despite the everyman quality of the protagonist, the story is less than relatable. It is not told in a straight-forward chronological fashion but rather in a surreal revolving way; Nabokov jumps back and forth between the four trips. It makes for a difficult read if you plan to take it in in short bursts. It's best if you read this short novel in one take, and the four trips will seem to blend into one, and somehow, it will all make perfect sense.