Lolita is a truly special book..perhaps too special in it's use of language for an Audible format. While it is stunningly performed, I needed to purchase a print copy because the language is so complex, such a high standard of excellence that it simply goes by too fast in spoken format. While Jeremy Irons is the perfect narrator for this (and I have not seen his version of the film) too much gets lost. So: if you just want to be entertained and listen to a beautiful voice, do get the recorded version. But for me, I needed to buy it in print (and I ended up being about 50 pages behind in print) because I need to be able to coherently discuss the book for book club. This is a book that is poetry, even though it is about a pedophile, the language is so beautifully structured that it merits a print read. It is a 5 star production of a 5 star book, but for the serious reader (or student) this is a book that needs to be cherished in print. Also, the afterward is not included in the Audible format, and the reader for the forward was jarring to listen to. These are mild complaints, so it still gets 5 stars for the material and 5 stars for the performance. Oh, and unless you speak (or understand) French, you will need to either not worry about the French that is liberally spoken or you will need a print copy to translate. Nabokov does insane perhaps better than anyone else. It is a marvel to me that English is not his first language.

However you choose to enjoy this book, just do yourself a favor and read it. It is glorious and it's amazing that the author is able to take such a raunchy subject and turn it into poetry. I saw the 1962 movie when I was about 20 years old, so I did have to shake those images...but in Jeremy Irons capable hands, that was pretty easy.
Thanks for reading this.

Sometimes funny, sometimes painful. Amazing job by Jeremy Irons in the narration in conveying the extreme emotions, intelligence, complexity, sickness of Humbert--as lyrical as the text itself.

the combination of poetic writing and excellent narration made this a compelling listen. I do was uncomfortable at times with the subject matter, but never bored.
what I simply can't fathom is that Nabokov's native tongue was not english - this book is pure poetry at times, subtle and delicious.

I read Lolita years ago, and thought it sordid and smug then. Via the Kubrick movie I came back to it and discovered this version on Audible. I can't say how much of a difference Jeremy Irons' reading makes. He brings out the best in the book's hypnotic language, and brings the basic conflicts of the book to the reader in the most direct way - HH's smugness and perversity, but also his appeal, his sweetness. Irons portrays the shifts of emotion with perfect accuracy. While the book itself will always be an uncomfortable and to some extent unpleasant read, it is a masterpiece, and this reading is quite possibly the best of any audiobook I have read.

This book is well written, but the subject matter was more than I could deal with since I worked with children who had been abused for many years. He is sick but to listen to him tell of his sickness is details was not what I call good listening. Sorry I bought this book.