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Invitation to a Beheading

By Vladimir Nabokov
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov is a surreal novel that follows Cincinnatus C., a man imprisoned and sentenced to death for an ambiguous crime. As he languishes in his cell, he contends with the absurdities of the authorities and the bizarre nature of reality around him. The story is a profound exploration of human isolation, existential dread, and the yearning for authenticity in a nonsensical world.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to surreal and allegorical tales that explore the absurdities of existence and the human condition. Nabokov weaves a story that blends dark humour with philosophical depth, creating a narrative that challenges perceptions and invites introspection. Its imaginative style and intricate language make it a fascinating read for those who appreciate literary experimentation.

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Takes us into the prison-world of Cincinnatus, a man condemned to death and spending his last days in prison not quite knowing when the end will come.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Nightmarish, witty and immaculately conceived, Invitation to a Beheading unsparingly teases out the illogic of tyranny and will establish Nabokov in readers' minds as a serious and intelligent writer.

Written in Berlin in 1934, Invitation to a Beheading contains all the surprise, excitement and magical intensity of a work created in two brief weeks of sustained inspiration. It takes us into the fantastic prison-world of Cincinnatus, a man condemned to death and spending his last days in prison not quite knowing when the end will come.

Nabokov described the book as 'a violin in a void. The worldling will deem it a trick. Old men will hurriedly turn from it to regional romances and the lives of public figures ... The evil-minded will perceive in little Emmie a sister of little Lolita ... But I know a few readers who will jump up, ruffling their hair'.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov is generally celebrated for its intricate prose and surreal narrative style. Critics often highlight its existential themes and the novel's exploration of a protagonist trapped in a nonsensical world. The book is praised for its clever use of language and its ability to provoke thought about the nature of freedom and individuality.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141185606

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 April 2001

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Dmitri Nabokov

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 149g

Pages: 192

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Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics Vladimir Nabokov

About the Author

Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977) was one of the great writers of the twentieth century, as well as a translator and lepidopterist. His works include, from the Russian novels, The Luzhin Defense and The Gift; from the English novels, Lolita, Pnin, Pale Fire and Ada; the autobiographical Speak, Memory; translations of Alice in Wonderland into Russian and Eugene Onegin into English; and lectures on literature. All of the fiction and Speak, Memory are published in Penguin.

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