Despair

By: Vladimir Nabokov

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Extensively revised by Nabokov in 1965 - 30 years after its original publication - Despair is the wickedly inventive and richly derisive story of Hermann, a man who undertakes the perfect crime: his own murder.

One of the 20th century’s master prose stylists, Vladimir Nabokov was born in St. Petersburg in 1899. He studied French and Russian literature at Trinity College, Cambridge, then lived in Berlin and Paris, where he launched a brilliant literary career. In 1940 he moved to the United States, and achieved renown as a novelist, poet, critic, and translator. He taught literature at Wellesley, Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard. In 1961 he moved to Montreux, Switzerland, where he died in 1977.

Public Domain (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically.” (John Updike)

“A beautiful mystery plot, not to be revealed.” ( Newsweek)

Performance by …

I love that this is not “read by” or “narrated by” Christopher Lane; it’s performed by him. And what a performance, too. He really brings the subtleties of Nabokov’s humor to life. Highly recommended.

Peak performance

Elusive but excellent story meets stellar delivery. I wish all Nabokov’s novels would get that treatment

Beautiful Prose

Any additional comments?

Nabokov is a master prose-writer. I really enjoyed the beauty and cleverness of his writing. After Lolita, this was the second book I listened to by Nabokov. I can't wait to listen to more of his works.

Brilliant read

if you, like me, are a fan of Nabokov, this is a must read. And if you aren't a fan of Nabokov- what is wrong with you?

Russian emigre candy dandy murderers R my weakness

While this isn't my favorite Nabokov novel and I have to leave room and stars for its better, it is stil bold and amazing. Nabokov is one of those writers I will never tire of. He is imaginative, funny, tight and always just a little naughty. Despair is a false double novel that at once mocks, parodies and honors Crime & Punishment. It was like Nabokov set out to write a fanciful doppelgänger novel of Crime and Punishment, but felt like he would prefer to dress Raskolnikov up a bit; bend the mirror and make him fancy, turn him into a Russian emigre candy dandy.