Plot Summary

Speak, Memory

Vladimir Nabokov
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Speak, Memory

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1951

Book Brief

Vladimir Nabokov

Speak, Memory

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1951
Book Details
Pages

255

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Russia • Early 20th century

Publication Year

1951

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Speak, Memory, Vladimir Nabokov recounts the first forty years of his life, moving from Russia to the south of France to Yalta to England, and finally to America, touching on his synesthesia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and his passion for butterfly collecting and writing. The memoir vividly portrays his childhood, family dynamics, and challenges with displacement due to war and exile.

Nostalgic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Melancholic

Serene

Reviews & Readership

4.3

17,489 ratings

76%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov receives praise for its lyrical prose and intricate narrative, showcasing the author's skillful command of language and vivid descriptions of his early life. Some critics, however, find the fragmented structure challenging. Overall, it stands out as a masterful memoir blending rich autobiography with literary elegance.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Speak, Memory?

A reader who would enjoy Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov tends to appreciate richly descriptive, reflective autobiographies. Fans of Proust's In Search of Lost Time and G. G. Márquez’s Living to Tell the Tale will relish Nabokov’s poignant, elegant exploration of memory and identity. They likely have an interest in literary history and émigré experiences.

4.3

17,489 ratings

76%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

255

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Russia • Early 20th century

Publication Year

1951

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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