Look at the Harlequins!

Dive into the intricate and captivating world of Vladimir Nabokov's *Look at the Harlequins!*, a semi-autobiographical novel that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. This reissue of the 1974 novel invites you to explore the mind of Vadim Vadimovich, a Russian migr novelist eerily similar to Nabokov himself. As Vadim confronts his mortality, he embarks on a poignant and often humorous journey through his past, meticulously reconstructing the fragments of his life. Published by Vintage in 1990, this 272-page paperback is a masterclass in Nabokov's signature style: playful, erudite, and profoundly introspective. Vadim's memories weave a tapestry of love, loss, and artistic creation. He recalls Iris, his first wife; Annette, his distinctive typist; and Bel, his beloved daughter. The novel delves into Vadim's struggles with a peculiar illness, the "numerical nimbus syndrome," a condition that adds another layer of eccentricity to his already complex character. *Look at the Harlequins!* is more than just a story; it's a literary game. Nabokov subtly hints at the parallels between Vadim's life and his own, inviting the reader to question the nature of authorship and the relationship between a writer and his creations. The novel is structured as a series of imagined novels by Vadim, each reflecting a different stage in his life and career, and subtly echoing or satirizing Nabokov's own works. This metafictional approach encourages active engagement and rewards careful readers with a deeper understanding of Nabokov's literary project. This is not a straightforward autobiography, but a sophisticated exploration of memory, identity, and the creative process. Through Vadim's unreliable narration and Nabokov's masterful prose, *Look at the Harlequins!* challenges our perceptions of reality and invites us to "invent the world," just as the aunt encouraged young Vadim. V.S. Pritchett of *The New York Review* praised the novel as "Good farce throbbing with his well-known obsessions," highlighting Nabokov's characteristic wit and his recurring themes of identity, memory, and artistic creation. *Look at the Harlequins!* is a compelling and rewarding read for those familiar with Nabokov's work and a brilliant introduction for new readers eager to explore his unique literary landscape. This edition is a perfect addition to any bookshelf and a must-read for lovers of postmodern fiction and insightful character studies. Delve into the world of a dying novelist and discover a new dimension of Nabokov's genius.