Invitation to a Beheading (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Review
Written long before Lolita, twenty five years ago, this is both a specific study in terrorism- and an allegory of Man in prison (Life) awaiting his own execution for the vague crime of being Different (Alive). As Nabokov says in his preface, he has been compared to Kafka, and there is a resemblance to Kafka, to many others, in the mysterious imprisonment, the impotent seeking, in the confused dream of officialdom. But the long, nightmare, hopeless quality of Kafka is actually quite different from this brilliant, fractured reality in which all ugly, ordinary things are present but displaced; all friends, foes; all escapes,- carefully planned delusions, in an incredibly detailed and propped stage set which the hero demolishes at the last possible moment by refusing to believe, any more, in the necessity of his own destruction. The evolution of betrayals, of private pleas for understanding, freedom and/or acceptance, makes this frequently an agonizing book to read, as is life itself for certain people. There is as well a desperate, farcical humor. As the author himself says of this book- "Most may not see it but I know a few readers who will jump up, ruffling their hair"... Obviously not for the market of Lolita- but critical attention should help to bring this to the attention of an intellectually fastidious audience. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
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'.
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First Sentence
IN accordance with the law the death sentence was announced to Cincinnatus C. in a whisper. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
IN accordance with the law the death sentence was announced to Cincinnatus C. in a whisper. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is stunning. It was the last book that Nabokov wrote in Russian and it explores a lot of the themes that he goes back to in later novels like Bend Sinister and Pale Fire. If I had to, I would pick those two novels above this one, but this one is certainly worth reading. I consider it one of the finest works of literature. It is funny, tragic, moving, puzzling, but ultimately very rewarding.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I think it is reasonable to accept that this novel will have to endure repeated allusions to Kafka's early 20th century literature, particulaly the plight of Joseph K. But if we take Nabokov at his word (see the forward), then this work was written (in two weeks) in ignorance of any knowledge of Kafka and, as such, any comparisons are purely coincidental. That being said it is spooky that this novel (excluding the word play) has a very Kafkaesque feel. For instance the central character is condemened to death for offences that are never revealed, the date of the beheading is not known, the prison officals are bizarre as are the official rituals, family members pop up now and then, cause a stir and disappear for a chapter ot two, the list goes on. Like Ada and Adour I found this novel immersed me in a surreal dreamscape made up of ambiguous characters and supernatural events, with no real sense of chronology or, dare I say it, meaning. For me, however, the meditative power of the narrative (Nabokov praised his son's translation from the original Russian) and the interest I had for the fate of the hero compelled me to ride the moments I found hard work. Perhaps this work is principally a dream punctuated by moments of reflection from the character's "reality", such as, the arrogantly, unfaithful wife?
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nabokov wrote this book in two weeks. As a result the book is fast paced, as is the reading. I couldnt stop reading it until I was finished.
The author denies having read Kafka before writing this book. The fact is that the "strangeness" of the story is akin to Kafkas works. A man that finds himself in a starnge situation (in this case, convicted to death) without any aparent reason, surrounded by stranger characters. As for the end of the book, without giving it away, all I can say is that it is Amazingly puzling... Great book from a great author!
The author denies having read Kafka before writing this book. The fact is that the "strangeness" of the story is akin to Kafkas works. A man that finds himself in a starnge situation (in this case, convicted to death) without any aparent reason, surrounded by stranger characters. As for the end of the book, without giving it away, all I can say is that it is Amazingly puzling... Great book from a great author!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
When you don't play the Game, and become one of life's outliers...
Nabokov surreal romp is the story of Cincinnatus C., somewhere out there in the faceless depths of Middle Europe, who has just been sentenced to a beheading for the crime of... Read more
Published 14 months ago by John P. Jones III
NABOKOV-AM I IGNORANT OR AM I CORRECT?
I don't understand this book.Whenever I don't see the point , I always consider that maybe I'm a stupid fellow. Well I found this book incomprehensibly dense and opaque. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Michael Richard Harris
Invitation to a Headache
Temporally, this is a companion piece to Nabokov's `The Gift'. The author reports that 'Invitation' was written in "one fortnight of wonderful excitement and sustained... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2009 by corvus corax
No easy way out
To understand Nabokov's Invitation we must at first do away with two comparisons. By the same author; Lolita is a blue streak tour-de-force of baby boomer America, narrated by a... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by Mr. A. Hunter
A clever enough little tale
A clever enough little tale. Nabokov's renowned way with words is not heavily in evidence here as he opts for a disorientating and broken style, reflecting (presumably) the... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2008 by Pablo K
Fascinating
Nabokov himself considered this one of his more important works. It is rich in symbolism and imagery, it is penetrating about the interaction between the individual and society and... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2006 by Liesel Knightley
He is not one of us
Set in the prison-fortress of an unnamed state, Invitation To A Beheading is a darkly surreal tale chronicling the last days of Cincinnatus C. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2005 by Black Glove
Hasty and shallow
With the possible exception of juvenilia such as _Glory_, this is the least important and least compelling of Nabokov's works. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2003 by Self
Great book
Nabokovs writing is exquisite. His words roll off the page like skies on a never-ending slope, encouraging and inticing readers not to put a book down. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2002 by "rkp001"
A strange, haunting and fulfilled prophecy
I first read this book in the 1960's and was puzzled but liked it. In 1989 I realised that it was a strange prophecy of the Fall of Communism. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 1999
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