Look at the Harlequins!– Both on the title page page and following the dedication page.

Vladimir Nabokov – Nabokov is, of course, the author of this his last published novel in English in his lifetime. As author of a number of Russian novels his name sometimes appears unaccompanied by a translator’s name, such as for the novel Despair, where Vladimir Nabokov himself, as opposed to his son Dimitri, is also the translator.

To Vera – The dedication of this as well as other novels is to Nabokov’s wife, Vera Yevseevna Slonim.

1. Other Books by the Narrator – Readers of Nabokov will find the invented list of titles remarkably similar, but not identical to Nabokov’s own published works in Russian and in English. The book also begins with a  list of Books by Vladimir Nabokov listed in chronological order under the subheadings NOVELS. SHORT FICTION and DRAMA.

IN RUSSIAN:

Tamara 1925 – cf.  (1926) Mashen’ka (Машенька); English translation: Mary (1970). “Tamara” is also the title of a chapter in Nabokov’s biography devoted to the real life Valentina Shulgina, the inspiration for the novel Mary. (Here and elsewhere I have made extensive use of the two volume life and works study by Brian Boyd, Vladimir Nabokov: the Russian Years (1990) and Vladimir Nabokov: the American Years (1991).  cf. the American Years, p. 140).

Pawn Takes Queen 1927 – cf. 1930) Zashchita Luzhina (Защита Лужина); English translation: The Luzhin Defense or The Defense (1964) (also adapted to film, The Luzhin Defence, in 2000)

Plenilune 1929 “a full moon.” – cf. (1932) Podvig (Подвиг (Deed)); English translation: Glory (1971)

Camera Lucida (Slaughter in the Sun) 1931 – cf. ( 1933) Kamera Obskura (Камера Обскура); English translations: Camera Obscura (1936),Laughter in the Dark (1938)

The Red Top Hat 1934 – cf. (1936) Priglasheniye na kazn’ (Приглашение на казнь (Invitation to an execution)); English translation: Invitation to a Beheading(1959). the reference is to M’sier Pierre, the executioner, who wears red for the occasion.

The Dare 1950 – cf. (1938) Dar (Дар); English translation: The Gift (1963)

IN ENGLISH:

See Under Real 1939 – cf. (1941) The Real Life of Sebastian Knight

Esmeralda and Her Parandurus 1941 – Note that Parandrus is a mythical beast.

Dr. Olga Repnin 1946 – cf. (1957) Pnin

Exile from Mayda 1947 –

A Kingdom by the Sea 1962 – cf. (1955) Lolita. See the poem by Edgar Allen Poe Annabel Lee

Ardis 1970 – cf. (1969) Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle. Ardis is the name of the publishing house founded by Carl and Ellendea Proffer that indeed took its name from Nabokov’s novel and was instrumental in publishing Nabokov’s works in Russian.