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The Real Lolita

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The Real Lolita

By: Sarah Weinman
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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About this listen

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita is one of the most beloved and notorious novels of all time. And yet, very few of its readers know that the subject of the novel was inspired by a real-life case: the 1948 abduction of eleven-year-old Sally Horner.

Weaving together suspenseful crime narrative, cultural and social history, and literary investigation, The Real Lolita tells Sally Horner's full story for the very first time. Drawing upon extensive investigations, legal documents, public records and interviews with remaining relatives, Sarah Weinman uncovers how much Nabokov knew of the Sally Horner case and the efforts he took to disguise that knowledge during the process of writing and publishing Lolita.

Sally Horner's story echoes the stories of countless girls and women who never had the chance to speak for themselves. By diving deeper in the publication history of Lolita and restoring Sally to her rightful place in the lore of the novel's creation, The Real Lolita casts a new light on the dark inspiration for a modern classic.

Read by Cassandra Campbell

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 Sarah Weinman (P)2017 Orion Publishing Group 20th Century Modern True Crime Exciting
All stars
Most relevant
well researched and story telling is captivating…but above all … thank you Sarah for tribute and acknowledgment to the yang females, who endured and survived an unimaginable sexual abuse in a hands of man…. this book helped me to heal my own wounds… Thank you Sarah

Deeply moved

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A must for anyone with an opinion on Lolita. Shines a light on a forgotten muse.

Finished in a day

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A really strong case is made for the link between the novel Lolita and the true crime case of Sally Horner. The book was also well-researched and well-written and the narrator was easy to listen to and had a pleasant voice. This book was an excellent find!

Really strong case made

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