Lolita

By: Vladimir Nabokov

Narrated by: Jeremy Irons

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

The most famous and controversial novel from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century tells the story of Humbert Humbert’s obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze.

"The conjunction of a sense of humor with a sense of horror [results in] satire of a very special kind." —The New Yorker

Awe and exhilaration—along with heartbreak and mordant wit—abound in Lolita, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert's obsession for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Lolita is also the story of a hypercivilized European colliding with the cheerful barbarism of postwar America.

Most of all, it is a meditation on love—love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation.

(P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

One of TIME Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels

"Lolita blazes with a perversity of a most original kind. For Mr. Nabokov has distilled from his shocking material hundred-proof intellectual farce…Lolita seems an assertion of the power of the comic spirit to wrest delight and truth from the most outlandish materials. It is one of the funniest serious novels I have ever read; and the vision of its abominable hero, who never deludes or excuses himself, brings into grotesque relief the cant, the vulgarity, and the hypocritical conventions that pervade the human comedy." —The Atlantic Monthly

"Intensely lyrical and wildly funny." —Time

"The only convincing love story of our century." —Vanity Fair

Classic brought to life

Jeremy Irons is amazing in this. A true work of art brought to life in full.

Sigh

I definitely didn't like the narrator of this book. When he says certain words he whistles and it's so annoying especially when you're listening to this on high volume. The book was ok. I didn't completely hate it or love it. But I was for sure disgusted by it.

Disturbing story, but great writing

The unreliable narrator sometimes convince me that his doings are justified, and that it is a perfectly acceptable thing. That is one thing I like about the book: the beautiful language prevents the reader from viewing the situation objectively.

I appreciate the choice of narrator - their voice was deep and soothing, exactly how I imagine the protagonist’s voice would be. However, I will say hearing him trying to do a little girl’s voice is half hilarious half disturbing.

Well written- deprived subject

So how do you rate the “story”? I knew the subject from the start so that isn’t the issue.

I was wondering why everyone liked this book

the narrator was fantastic. I usually prefer dramatized audiobooks, and this was just as fantastic! He makes the book really come to life as if the author himself was directing him.

the book was very well written. I was worried about the subject matter, but it is written very perfectly. sometimes the author makes you feel like this the narrator is extremely personable, and then reminds you of his actions. the prose is fantastic and keeps you very interested. the story line is forever keeping your attention. it's like a snowball tolling down a hill.

Disturbing but intriguing story.

Jeremy Irons was amazing. The subject matter was disturbing but I could not tear myself away from this book.

Exquisite narration

If any English speaker in the next 500 years wishes to listen to this book, this should be the version they hear. The performance is perfection.
After I finished listening I tried to get a different audio book written by Vladimir Nabokov, but the narration was so disappointing, the narrator was just reading the words, there was no feeling, it was empty.
After listening to Jeremy Irons read Lolita, I’ll be hard to please. Sadly, if I want to read another book by this author I’ll have to read it myself, which is a bummer because I can’t do that while I drive.
The book is very good, I enjoyed it. It is both the same and very different from the movie. The book puts you inside his head more than the movie did.
As a woman whose father is a physically and mentally abusive sociopath and pedophile, it’s interesting to hear this guy’s obsession.

A spectacular novel

This is perhaps the best written novel I’ve ever read. Also the most repugnant novel I’ve ever read. However, I now understand why Lolita is held in such acclaim.

Jeremy Irons does this Sinister Novel Justice!

Absolutely fascinating and disturbing story of an obsessed pedophile and his delusion that Lolita and hecbelong together

Did not finish! Didn't want to!

I listened to this book until I was tired of hearing about an old man who was intensely interested in only young girls. He goes to great lengths to justify his desires, but I grew quickly tired of this malarkey.