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Lolita  By  cover art

Lolita

By: Vladimir Nabokov
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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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

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What listeners say about Lolita

Average customer ratings
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well, hmmmm, expertly crafted

Just wow. I had to keep reminding myself it's a comedy. Book club members had quite interestingly different negative reactions including disparaging Miss Haze. Seriously what up with that?

Anyway if you force yourself to finish you will appreciate the intellect and wit of the author and the fierce talent of Jeremy Irons. If you're going yo stop, stop early. Otherwise see it thru and don't skip the forward.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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One of a kind.

An astonishing achievement. Shocking in its audacity. A gorgeous palette of the English language. Amazing.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Controversial Story, Sublime Narration

I don't think anyone but Jeremy Irons could read this novel. Of course, Jeremy Irons could read a phone book and I would listen to it, but his cultured voice is especially suited for this story.

Due to the pedophilia, this novel isn't for everyone. It is well-written and I can see why it is a classic.

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Good

Beautifully written and very well performed. A sad dark tale not for the faint of heart

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Perverted and vile, but touching in a way

I had to listen to this (or read it, but this was far more efficient for my time) as part of my Fiction and Film class at my university. A big part of my hanging on to it was Jeremy Irons' narration, which is pretty amazing; he's a great actor! If I could not buy this audiobook, I would have most definitely struggled; it is by turns haunting and wretched, soaringly beautiful and wretchedly ugly. My skin crawled at times, but I'm happy I listened all the way through.

A very well-deserved $22.60 - I wasn't even miffed that there was no discount for owning the Kindle Edition!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So heartbreaking, poignant and well read

Jeremy Irons is fantastic as the piedo mentally ill father who loves his Lolita, Lolita.

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Heavenly

Jeremy Irons is the perfect choice to read this great and disturbing work. Perfect for a long road trip

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Makes Sense

I read this book several years ago and have always felt somewhat confused and slighted by the story. Listening to it was the solution. This reader does such a great job with the character, and I was able to follow along much better listening. A very challenging and intriguing story with mystery and thoughtfulness. I would definitely recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Irons needs to do more audiobook work.

He brings an edge of psychosexual confusion to the reading that is so appropriate to the full appreciation of this book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Jeremy Irons Voice made all the difference

What did you love best about Lolita?

I've never been able to get through this book until the audiobook. Jeremy Irons narration made it easy.

Have you listened to any of Jeremy Irons’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've heard his poetry readings before, and this was as good as those.

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