I was just sitting down to write, not quite sure of what I wanted to write about, and in the box of books to be shelved today I see some books wrapped in plastic which can mean it to be something special or simply an annoyance.
Unwrapping it, I see that it is a previously unpublished and unfinished work of Vladimir Nabokov.
From the jacket, I read:
When Vladimir Nabokov died in 1977, he left instructions for his heirs to burn the 138 handwritten index cards that made up the rough draft of his final and unfinished novel, The Original Laura. But Nabokov’s wife, Vera, could not bear to destroy her husband’s last work, and when she died, the fate of the manuscript fell to her son. Dmitri Nabokov, now seventy-five–the Russian novelist’s only surviving heir, and translator of his many books–has wrestled for three decades with the decision of whether to honor his father’s wish or preserve for posterity the last piece of writing of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. His decision finally to allow publication of the fragmented narrative–dark yet playful, preoccupied with mortality–affords us one last experience of Nabokov’s magnificent creativity, the quintessence of his unparalleled body of work.
Opening with an introduction by Vladimir’s son, Dmitri, the book elegantly compiles the 138 reproduced handwritten note cards with a type-written text below. The image above is the hardcover without the jacket.
I’m too curious to resist. I’ll be reading it on this rainy night. I certainly do wonder what Vladimir would think about his note cards now reproduced in a glorious book format designed by Chip Kidd.
I’ll try to get back here after I finish reading . . .
Update: I finished reading The Original of Laura. My recommendation for reading this work is to finish it in a couple of sittings. It is indeed an unfinished work and a little disconcerting at times. But stick with it! There is a conclusion to Laura and the characters will linger in your mind long after you finish it. I thought that the Nabokov’s notes on the hard cover must have to do with his wishes that the unfinished work be destroyed upon his death. However, you will discover the intended meaning of the words once you finish Laura: “efface expunge erase delete . . . ” become a bit haunting. I think it is beneficial to read the introduction prior to Laura as it is a charming and sometimes humorous explanation of why Dimitri decided to publish his father’s work. On a somber note, I also learned of the somewhat sad circumstances under which Vladimir Nabokov passed away. I look forward to sitting down with this beautiful book again sometime, and I recommend it highly.
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