Lolita (Penguin Classics) is a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov. The book has as its central theme the obsession of a middle-aged man over a little girl. It was first published in English and then translated by its author into Russian. The book makes use of a lot of puns, double-entendres and anagrams.
Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged professor who has an obsession over little girls. He explains this by the fact that he was deeply affected by the loss of his childhood sweetheart, Annabel Leigh. Eventually, he focuses his attention on a young girl he nicknames Lolita.
Humbert marries a lady called Charlotte just so he can remain close to her daughter. Initially unaware of all this, Charlotte finds out about his true intentions when she reads his diary. She threatens to expose him and send Lolita away. However, as she walks into the street in a daze, she is killed in an accident.
As her step-father, Humbert goes to pick up the girl from a camp she was in. He soon enters into a sexual relationship with the girl and in return he bribes her with clothes and other gifts. He and the girl begin to live a nomadic life, moving from one place to another.
They then settle down in another little New England town and he allows Lolita to go to school. But he refuses to allow any form of social activity and keeps her confined in the house. The neighbours see this as an act of a responsible and protective parent. Humbert keeps Lolita in line by telling her that if he is arrested, she will lose her home and all the luxuries he provides.
Eventually though, Loilta does run away and Humbert frantically searches for her. Despite his obsession, he is able to see his role in the way her life has turned out. The novel has a poignancy to it despite the nature of the relationship between Humbert and the young girl.
Lolita (Penguin Classics) was published by Penguin UK in 2006. Part of the Popular Classics collection, the book is available in paperback.
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