Vladimir Nabokov
Though his first literary works were in Russian, it was his English novels that garnered Vladimir Nabokov his fame. Known for his complex plots, intelligent play on words, bold metaphors and his ability to brandish a style of prose holding both parody and intense lyricism, Nabokov has written renowned works such as Pale Fire and Speak, Memory. However, his main claim to fame came from the notoriety-ridden Lolita, a story starring a middle-aged literature professor who becomes infatuated with a 12-year-old girl. It was first published in Paris in 1955 by Olympia Press, before being translated into Russian by Nabokov and published in New York in 1967. The novel quickly gained the status of being a “classic” and, to this day, is still regarded as one of the most controversial and prime achievements of 20th century literature. – Joanna Lee
