Vladimir Nabokov: A Descriptive Bibliography, Revised

The Vladimir Nabokov: A Descriptive Bibliography, Revised is the definitive reference work for scholars, collectors, and admirers of one of the twentieth centurys most enigmatic writers. First published in 1993 by Boydell & Brewer and extensively revised in 2014, the volume updates and expands the original 1976 bibliography compiled by Leonid Kvasnicov and James A. Kaser. It provides a meticulous, itembyitem record of Nabokovs published output, from his early Russian poetry to posthumous English editions, and offers critical insight into the material history of his works.

Why a Revised Bibliography Matters

Nabokovs oeuvre is notoriously complex. He wrote in Russian, French, and English, often retranslating his own texts. Many of his books exist in multiple editions, each with subtle variations in pagination, translation, illustration, and binding. Since the first bibliography appeared, dozens of new editions, previously unknown manuscript fragments, and archival discoveries have come to light. The revised edition consolidates these findings, correcting earlier errors, adding missing items, and standardising the citation format for modern scholarship.

Structure of the Work

The bibliography is organised chronologically and thematically, divided into six main parts:

1. Early Russian and French publications (19161939)
2. First English works and translations (19361949)
3. The mature English period (19501970)
4. Post1960 reissues and collected editions
5. Manuscripts, marginalia, and unpublished material
6. Secondary literature and critical studies

1. Early Russian and French Publications (19161939)

This section catalogs Nabokovs debut poems in the Russian migr journals of Berlin and Paris, as well as his first prose collections such as Vozvrashchenie (The Return) (1923) and God Nocci (God and the Abyss) (1933). Each entry lists the original newspaper or magazine, printing house, page numbers, and, where relevant, the presence of doublepage illustrations by artists like Yuri Babenko.

2. First English Works and Translations (19361949)

Here the focus shifts to Lydia (1928) and its English editions, the early translations of Mary (1932), and the controversial 1940 English publication of The Gift in its unfinished form. The bibliography records the translators name, imprint, and any textual alterations prompted by Nabokovs own revisions.

3. The Mature English Period (19501970)

This is the heart of Nabokovs literary fame: Lolita, Pale Fire, Ada, and Invitation to a Beheading. For each novel the bibliography details the first American edition (e.g., G.P. Putnams Sons, 1955 for Lolita), the first British edition (World Publishing, 1955), subsequent paperback runs, and special collectors editions such as the 1996 Vintage International Iconic edition, which includes a previously unpublished foreword. Variant textual notes highlight changes between the first and later printingsmost famously the alteration of the opening line of Lolita in the 1960 Revised Edition.

4. Post1960 Reissues and Collected Editions

The revised bibliography lists the major Collected Works projects: the 1991 Cambridge University Press multivolume Russian-language set, the 1999 Nabokov Library series in New York, and the 2011 31volume Vladimir Nabokov: Complete Works edited by Brian Boyd. Each entry indicates the editor, ISBN, pagination, and any supplemental materialforewords, critical essays, or previously unpublished letters that accompany the text.

5. Manuscripts, Marginalia, and Unpublished Material

Nabokovs notebooks, drafts, and annotated copies are scattered across institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia. The bibliography provides a register of the most significant manuscript locations: the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (Yale), the Harry Ransom Center (UT Austin), and the Russian State Library in St.Petersburg. Detailed descriptions include the codicological condition of each item, the presence of authorial marginalia, and crossreferences to published versions where the material appears.

6. Secondary Literature and Critical Studies

Though primarily a bibliography, the revised edition attaches a selective bibliography of secondary scholarship. It outlines monographs by Brian Boyd, Michael Wood, and Dmitri Nabokov, as well as influential journal articles on textual criticism, translation theory, and Nabokovs butterfly collecting. The entries are annotated with brief assessments of each works contribution to Nabokov studies.

Key Features of the Revised Edition

• Expanded coverage: Over 400 additional items, including recent Russianlanguage facsimiles and limitededition art books.
• Uniform citation style: All entries follow the Chicago Manual of Style (17thed.), making crossreferencing straightforward.
• Illustrative plates: 45 highresolution images of title pages, dust jackets, and manuscript facsimiles, placed beside the corresponding entries.
• Digital appendices: A companion website (access via the ISBN) offers searchable PDF scans of rare items and links to library holdings.
• Bibliographic commentary: Each section opens with a concise essay that contextualises the material culture of the period in question.

Using the Bibliography in Research

Scholars benefit from the bibliographys precision. When citing a specific edition of Pale Fire, for example, a researcher can retrieve the exact imprint, printing number, and even the presence of an errata sheet that appeared in the 1991 Penguin Classics edition. For textual critics, the marginal notes recorded from Nabokovs own copies illuminate his revision processessuch as the deleted pennyscented phrase in the final chapter of Invitation to a Beheading.

Collectors rely on the work to authenticate rare copies. The bibliography lists distinguishing features (e.g., the giltstamped First American Edition label on the 1955 hardcover of Lolita) that help differentiate a genuine first printing from later facsimile reissues.

Reception and Scholarly Impact

Since its release, the revised bibliography has been praised in major journals such as Modern Language Review and Journal of Modern Literature. Reviewers highlight its unparalleled thoroughness and essential utility for any serious Nabokov inquiry. The work has also been adopted as a core reference in graduate seminars on Russian migr literature and in cataloguing projects at major research libraries.

Conclusion

Vladimir Nabokov: A Descriptive Bibliography, Revised stands as a model of bibliographic scholarship. By consolidating over half a century of discoveries into a single, meticulously edited volume, it equips scholars, translators, and collectors with the tools needed to navigate Nabokovs labyrinthine publishing history. Whether you are tracing the evolution of a single poem, verifying the provenance of a firstedition novel, or exploring the interplay between Nabokovs literary and lepidopterological pursuits, this bibliography is an indispensable companion.

For further information, purchase details, or access to the digital appendices, visit the publishers page at Boydell & Brewer.