Glory is the wryly ironic story of Martin Edelweiss, a twenty-two-year-old Russian émigré of no account, who is in love with a girl who refuses to marry him. Convinced that his life is about to be wasted and hoping to impress his love, he decides to embark upon a “perilous, daredevil project” — an illegal attempt to reenter the Soviet Union, from which he and his mother had fled in 1919. He succeeds — but at a terrible cost. “Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically.” — John Updike
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"Beautiful early Nabokov displaying all of his later concerns and framing playfulness in the form of a coming of age story. Contains one of the great goalkeeper scenes in literature, and one of the most vertiginous, breathtaking narrative gambits at its end, achieved with a sleight of hand that I suspect Conrad would have applauded."
— Jonathan (5 out of 5 stars)
" A very early and rather romantic Nabokov. A young man's novel, but surprisingly powerful, and full of Russian romanticism and melancholy. "
— DoctorM, 2/12/2014" Really great novel by everyone's favorite Russian emigre. I liked it better than Pale Fire, most people would probably argue me on that one, but fuck you, I say. "
— Tony, 1/22/2014" What is up with the description of the book on the cover verso of the Vintage edition? It's like I read another book entirely. "
— Lavina, 1/16/2014" A mixture of Faulkner and Woolf in the Nabokovian style. An enjoyable read. "
— Dan, 1/16/2014" I love Nabokov but wasn't too fond of this one. I can only assume that is because its brilliance is way over my head. "
— Katy, 12/23/2013" Glory is slow and Russian for about 4/5 of the book - not bad, just Russian - but the ending is fucking brilliant. "
— Janarchy, 5/8/2013" Vladimir Nabokov has, unfortunately, always disappointed me, though I've returned to him many times hoping it wouldn't be so. This book was an exception, and I enjoyed it a lot. Nabokov's descriptive powers are really on display here. "
— Riley, 5/3/2013" What a snooze-fest. My least favorite Nabokov so far. Where's the magic? "
— Martin, 12/26/2012" not my favourite nabokov book, that's for sure "
— Bistra, 4/26/2012" an early Russian novel of Nabokov that I had never read, shows the dangers of romanticism. As usual with Nabokov, I had to look up a few words, but well worth it. "
— Mimi, 5/9/2011" This is one of Nabokov's happiest books, I think. "
— Matt, 1/1/2011" read 12/00 "
— Lukas, 12/1/2010" Nabokov = fucking genius. I mean: "Amidst the twilight of the room, all in white, sat Irina, seeming to float int he dusk like a ghostly turtle.' GHOSTLY TURTLE?? Holy holy mackerel all holy. So good. "
— Lila, 11/4/2010" Nothing really happens, but I suppose Nabokov did warn me in his introduction. "
— Alexis, 7/5/2010" I love Nabokov but wasn't too fond of this one. I can only assume that is because its brilliance is way over my head. "
— Katy, 4/10/2010" an early Russian novel of Nabokov that I had never read, shows the dangers of romanticism. As usual with Nabokov, I had to look up a few words, but well worth it. "
— Mimi, 12/7/2009" Pierwsza z ksiazek Nabokova, która przeczytalem. Wspaniale dzielo, bylem pod wielkim wrazeniem po przeczytaniu jej. Nie moge nic wiecej napisac, bo byloby to zbyt nieobiektywne ;) "
— Adam, 11/1/2009" not my favourite nabokov book, that's for sure "
— bistra, 8/11/2009" Nabokov = fucking genius. I mean: "Amidst the twilight of the room, all in white, sat Irina, seeming to float int he dusk like a ghostly turtle.' GHOSTLY TURTLE?? Holy holy mackerel all holy. So good. "
— Lila, 5/10/2009" This is one of Nabokov's happiest books, I think. "
— Matt, 7/9/2008" What is up with the description of the book on the cover verso of the Vintage edition? It's like I read another book entirely. "
— Lavina, 12/6/2007" Really great novel by everyone's favorite Russian emigre. I liked it better than Pale Fire, most people would probably argue me on that one, but fuck you, I say. "
— Tony, 11/13/2007Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (1889–1977) was one of the most prolific writers and literary critics of the twentieth century. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, he grew up in a trilingual household and later studied Slavic and romance languages at Trinity College, Cambridge, taking his honors degree in 1922. For the next eighteen years he lived in Berlin and Paris, writing prolifically in Russian under the pseudonym “Sirin” and supporting himself through translations, lessons in English and tennis, and by composing the first crossword puzzles in Russian. Having already fled Russia and Germany, Nabokov became a refugee once more in 1940 when he was forced to leave France for the United States. There he taught at Wellesley, Harvard, and Cornell. He died in Montreux, Switzerland.
Joyce Bean is an accomplished audiobook narrator and director. In addition to having won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, she has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious Audie Award. Equally adept at narrating fiction and nonfiction, and she also narrates audiobooks under the name Jane Brown.