Transparent Things by Vladimir Nabokov

Transparent Things

by Vladimir Nabokov

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.

Reviewed by jamiereadthis on

3 of 5 stars

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Transparent Things was the first Nabokov I read back in the day, before I was ready to try Lolita, and I really had no idea what to make of it. This time around, so much the better; knowing what to expect from the puzzles and prisms of the words.

Hugh (You) Person still isn’t my favorite protagonist, though, and far from Nabokov’s best, so in that respect it’s suffering now having just read Ada.

3.0 for character execution, 4.5 for artistic merit. 3.75 it is.

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  • 25 April, 2010: Finished reading
  • 25 April, 2010: Reviewed
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