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

Wonderful Reading

If you could sum up Lolita in three words, what would they be?

Disconcerting, Provoking, Unique

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lolita - who else?

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

I have watched Jeremy Irons in Lolita, but I have not heard him read another book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think everyone has an extreme reaction to Lolita. It is very thought provoking.

Any additional comments?

The subject matter is difficult, but the way this book is written makes it unlike any other book ever written.

Read only if you enjoy child abuse

Jeremy Irons, however, is a wonderful narrator. But that only makes this story all the more difficult.

A horrifying story beautifully written

The well known story of a well-educated pedophile and the 12 yr old girl that becomes his life's obsession. Nabokov has the uncanny ability to write gorgeous prose about a vile subject. The reader will catch himself enjoying the narrator's wit and style only to be checked when another despicable act is casually mentioned. Acted superbly by Jeremy Irons.

Beautifully written, but disturbing.

Nabokov's writing is exquisite, but I felt a tiny bit uncomfortable with the story. I'd still recommend reading it.

Beautiful and disturbing

This was incredibly disturbing for me as a father of a young girl. But it is beautifully written it was just a bitter subject for me to hear. He narrator was amazing

A classic, beautifully performed by Jeremy Irons

I was not in any hurry to read/listen to this book given its difficult subject. What a mistake. Nabokov is pure genius, and while the subject matter remains despicable to me, his treatment of it through the vehicle of this story is haunting yet beautifully rendered. I plan to go back to reread using a heavily annotated written version as prepared by Alfred Appel, but must say that the audio piece performed by Irons perfectly captures and interprets the intended cadence and emotion it seems Nabokov intended.

Disturbing, but worth the ride

What made the experience of listening to Lolita the most enjoyable?

Jeremy Irons' narration really brought the story to life.

What other book might you compare Lolita to and why?

I can't think of a comparison, this book is well written and so disturbing.

What does Jeremy Irons bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jeremy Irons makes Humbert Humbert human, but doesn't stop him from being culpable.

Any additional comments?

If you start this book and can't imagine why it is a "classic" and are tempted to quit listening, don't. Get through to the end you'll be glad you did.

Awesome narration!

This book is beautifully written and impressive knowing English is not Nabokov's native tongue. Difficult subject matter but an interesting point of view. I can't say enough about how well done the narration is! A definite MUST Listen!

Deliciously creepy!

"Lolita" is about so much more than a middle-aged man's inappropriate obsession with the daughter of his landlady -- about pretense, about ego, about cultural differences -- all bound together by one of the most self-serving, unreliable narrators around. Jeremy Irons caresses each syllable of Nabokov's wonderful wordplay and makes Humbert Humbert as human and fascinating as he is appalling.

Disturbing but well read

What did you love best about Lolita?

I was a little hesitant to read but with all the good reviews, i figured what the heck. Although very disturbing, the narrator was fabulous and the story, sad, but so prevelant in our society. I had no sympathy for the villian but it takes you to the mindset of a sick man. A good read if you can stomache the idea.