Misunderstood, used and abused throughout the years, Lolita (1955) is the most beautifully written book I have ever read. It is the story of Humbert Humbert, a man in his 30s, who is infatuated with Lolita, a 12-year-old girl.
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
― Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1995)
What is extremely interesting about this novel is that Nabokov forces readers to empathize with and adopt the point of view of a monstrous character. The book is written solely from Humbert’s perspective, letting him present and analyze Lolita, her actions and the reality the way it pleases him, often manipulating readers into thinking that Lolita was the one who “seduced” him.
If we’re not careful and we read the book superficially, we may think that Lolita indeed seduced Humbert. This is the source of misunderstanding for many: a misunderstanding of “Lolita” still present in today’s pop culture.
Although Lolita is the story of a completely transgressive love, Nabokov’s poetic and magical writing forces the readers to put aside their ethical beliefs and even pushes some of them to love what they would morally hate.
Nabokov was a brilliant writer and extremely clever. Lolita is a masterpiece and a must-read.