Laughter in the Dark
Amidst a Weimar-era milieu of silent film stars, artists, and aspirants, Nabokov creates a merciless masterpiece as Albinus, an aging critic, falls prey to his own desires, to his teenage mistress, and to Axel Rex, the scheming rival for her affections who finds his greatest joy in the downfall of others. "Both hilarious and deliciously cruel." -The Guardian. Albinus, a respectable, middle-aged man and aspiring filmmaker, abandons his wife for a lover half his age: Margot, who wants to become a movie star herself. When Albinus introduces her to Rex, an American movie producer, disaster ensues. What emerges is an elegantly sardonic and irresistibly ironic novel of desire, deceit, and deception, a curious romance set in the film world of Berlin in the 1930s.
A Descent into Deception
Vladimir Nabokov's "Laughter in the Dark" is a chilling exploration of obsession, deception, and the unreliable narrator. Originally published in 1932, the novel remains as fresh and unsettling as ever, offering a masterfully crafted tale of moral decay and the dangers of unchecked passion.
A Twisted Narrative:
The story revolves around Albinus, a middle-aged art critic, and his infatuation with Margot, a young woman who becomes his model. Albinus's obsession with Margot leads him to manipulate and deceive his wife, all the while spiraling deeper into a web of lies and betrayal.
Nabokov's genius lies in his masterful manipulation of perspective. The entire narrative unfolds through Albinus's unreliable and self-serving lens, blurring the lines between reality and perception. We are constantly questioning his motives and his account of events, unsure of what to believe and who to trust.
Dark Humor and Irony:
Despite the bleakness of its subject matter, "Laughter in the Dark" is infused with Nabokov's signature darkly comic wit. The novel is filled with ironic twists and turns, and Nabokov's masterful use of language creates moments of both humor and horror. This juxtaposition adds another layer of complexity to the narrative, forcing the reader to confront the uncomfortable truths about human nature.
Enduring Themes:
"Laughter in the Dark" explores timeless themes of love, lust, and betrayal. Nabokov delves into the depths of human desire and the destructive consequences of unchecked passion. The novel also raises questions about the nature of truth and the dangers of self-deception.
A Masterful Work:
"Laughter in the Dark" is a masterfully crafted work of literature. Nabokov's prose is sharp and witty, his characters are complex and believable, and his plot is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. This is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, prompting you to question your own perceptions and ponder the dark side of human nature.
Recommendation:
"Laughter in the Dark" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction, suspenseful thrillers, or works that explore the complexities of human psychology. It is a challenging and rewarding read, offering a unique and unsettling perspective on the human condition.
Additional Points:
- Target audience: This book is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy literary fiction, psychological thrillers, and works with unreliable narrators.
- Writing style: Nabokov's writing is witty, sharp, and precise. He uses vivid imagery and carefully chosen words to create a distinct and memorable atmosphere.
- Strengths: The novel's strengths lie in its complex narrative, unreliable narrator, and exploration of dark themes.
- Weaknesses: Some readers may find the novel's bleak subject matter and graphic descriptions disturbing.
- Overall impression: "Laughter in the Dark" is a masterful work of literature that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a disturbing yet thought-provoking exploration of human nature and the consequences of unchecked passion.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, Novelist & Poet 
Prolific Novelist, Poet, and Literary Figure
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, born on April 23, 1899, in St. Petersburg, Russia, was a literary polymath known for his proficiency in multiple languages and his contributions to various genres. His trilingual upbringing set the stage for a remarkable literary career that spanned Russian, English, and French.
Nabokov's academic journey led him to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he immersed himself in the study of Slavic and romance languages, earning his honors degree in 1922. For the next eighteen years, he resided in Berlin and Paris, adopting the pseudonym Sirin for his prolific Russian writings. During this period, he supported himself through translations, language lessons, tennis, and even pioneering the creation of the first crossword puzzles in Russian.
In 1925, Nabokov married Vera Slonim, and the couple had a son named Dmitri. The year 1940 marked a significant upheaval in his life as he became a refugee, compelled to leave France for the United States. In the U.S., Nabokov taught at prestigious institutions such as Wellesley, Harvard, and Cornell. This phase of his life saw a shift from Russian to English writing, and he delved into fictional works and literary criticism.
Vladimir Nabokov's literary legacy is characterized by his diverse works, including novels, novellas, short stories, drama, poetry, translation, autobiography, and non-fiction. Notable among his creations are "The Defense" (1930), "Despair" (1934), "Invitation to a Beheading" (1936), "Lolita" (1955), "Pnin" (1957), "Pale Fire" (1962), and "Ada or Ardor" (1969). His mastery over the written word and innovative narrative styles earned him acclaim and secured his place among the literary greats.
Nabokov's linguistic prowess allowed him to traverse cultural and linguistic boundaries seamlessly. His extensive knowledge in entomology, particularly lepidoptery, added another facet to his intellectual profile. Nabokov's contributions to chess problems showcased yet another dimension of his multifaceted interests.
In addition to his fictional works, Nabokov's memoir, "Speak, Memory," published in 1951, is revered as one of the greatest nonfiction works of the 20th century. Nabokov's impact on literature is evident in his seven-time finalist status for the National Book Award for Fiction.
Vladimir Nabokov's rich and influential career continued until his passing on July 2, 1977, in Montreux, Switzerland. His legacy endures through his literary masterpieces, scholarly contributions, and the indelible mark he left on 20th-century literature.
The novel descriptively and expertly depicts how a man of substance is taken by a young wench who had been a sycophant upon others for her living. The man, Albinus, is taken by the young lady, Margot and he decides he must have her. Margot sees in Albinus, the opportunity to have her life made comfortable at Albinus' expense and she is not even satisfied to live with Albinus and provide him with love and comfort. No; her background as a virtual prostitute leads her to a life of debauchery and deception that only a woman of low breeding and character can impose upon a man.
She first manages to get the man to take her in. Then through a blatant and cunning little trick, she reveals her existence to the man's wife, so as to get her out of the way of her plan. The wife is so totally distraught that she leaves her husband and takes her daughter with her to live with her brother. But the wife's life becomes one of total depression and despair as every day she must face up to the reality that a young parasitic woman has wrested her husband away from her.
In a manner that can only be arranged by such a woman, she sets herself up in a hotel and carries on a flagrant sexual affair with another man, while staying with the husband, but not living with him as his loving mistress. No, she totally betrays him in every possible manner, particularly sexually. Her other paramour has been set up to deceive the husband into believing he is just a good friend and driver for the couple. But all along, the plan is to be secret lovers right under the nose of the husband who has chucked his former life of domestic tranquility for the love of what can only be described as a tart.
The story is very descriptive in Nabokov's usual unique style and goes on to describe the horrid depth of betrayal that she brings upon Albinus while making herself the recipient of all that he has to offer, including his money which he tricks him into laying out to her for supposed goods and services. The ultimate sexual betrayal scene is brilliantly depicted by Nabokov and elucidated in great and grand detail. Finally, Albinus senses that this horror story is truly going on and pulls Margot away from the hotel and into the car. During that ride, Albinus who is not a good driver and totally distressed to realize how he has been deceived by Margot, gets into an accident which results in his loss of sight. As an expert in Art from which he makes his living, this loss of his sight is just one more horrible betrayal laid upon him by Margot.
The book continues through more treacherous betrayal and more intense theft of Albinus' assets. The end of the story is most severe and horrid for Albinus and truly describes how a man can be taken to the lowest state of being by a woman who is intent on destroying him for her own devious and avaricious purposes. It is one thing when a woman seeks to live a life of leisure by capturing such a man and turning his head so he gives up his live, his wife, his children and all that came before so she can have him and live in total comfort as his mistress. But Nabokov takes it to the highest degree depicting a woman that is not even that kind to her man. She does not even attempt to make Albinus happy, but instead, carries on with others virtually immediately.
It shall be left to the reader to see how Margot achieves this masterful and disgusting accomplishment and what becomes of Albinus in the end. Yet Nabokov's pure genius in story telling is presented in this tale which so deeply captures a part of life that so many at some point experience, often to their total ruination. The tale is a quick reading and wonderful story which all Nabokov devotees should read so as to experience once again how Nabokov captures this true life experience in a story of fiction which could be the biography of all too many good men. The book is recommended for all Nabokov readers and all readers who wish to experience the ultimate betrayal in life by a woman. Only a woman could be this cruel and heartless, and as she is in this story, so it is in real life often as well.
Nabokov wrote LAUGHTER in Russian in 1932, when he was 33 years old. The novel contains many of the elements of the mature Nab's great novels. These include an innocent and bumbling older man who is tortured by inanimate objects
