Lolita (Penguin Modern Classics) [ペーパーバック]

「ロリータ・コンプレックス」という精神分析用語にもなってしまった、あまりにも有名なナボコフの「ロリータ」全編を、英国人・アカデミー賞俳優のジェレミー・アイアンズが格調高く、そして愛情をこめて渾身の朗読。その「声」「語り口調」も素晴らしいのですが、彼のブリティッシュ・イングリッシュは完璧で美しく、まさに名書です。長年にわたり、私の英語のヒアリングとスピーキングのテキストにしています。10年近く前にロンドンの本屋さんを探し回って、カセットテープで入手。今、CDを狙っています。本人主演で映画化されていますが、こちらもアイアンズの演技は完璧です。ただし映画自体は今ひとつで、惜しい出来でした。

まず英語のことから書くが、はっきり言って楽ではない。英文が難しいのではなく、回想記の形で一人称で書かれたこの書物は、ユリシーズの如くナボコフの独り言に近いので、彼の精神のあり方と波長が合わないと、これを一読してすんなりと理解することは叶わない。
　話の展開を把握するのにはさほど苦労しないが、随所に散りばめられた独特の語法に様々な意味が込められているので、本当に哲学書を読んでいるような気分になる。和訳版の出来が良いのなら、それを読んでからのほうが良いかもしれない。

Narrowly beating Salinger's immortal 'Catcher', Nabokov's Lolita is arguably the best work of fiction yet written.

Firstly the reason it can claim this rare distinction over Salinger's masterpiece is quite simply, that it is better written. The language is more mellifluous, the narration all the more superb and the power of his conveyance is unrivalled. All this despite being Nabokov's SECOND language! The second reason it can lay claim to the honour of 'best novel' is due to the originality of the story and the complexities of the fictional characters. Like all great works of fiction Lolita draws the reader in, slowly but surely - there is no escape. If you intent to read this work and remain a spectator think again. There are no seats in the Gods for this performance, all seats are 'ring-side' and you WILL find yourself spattered when the blows land. Reading Lolita takes you on a roller-coaster ride inside the psyche of one person a (wo)man that exists in all human beings, whatever you crave, desire or lust after be it physical, material or spiritual the readers sure to recognise themselves in Humbert darkest shadows.

In reading Lolita it is easy to be led off course into the rough and to loose site of the flag. A simple tale of lust this is not and anyone arriving at such a conclusion is sure to have missed the point - maybe they never got out of the rough - never got a clear look at the flag? Lolita is a complex, thought-provoking self-analysis of one immensely intelligent, neurotic and probably insane man. And though we might be inclined to point our fingers or hide behind twitching curtains, gossiping with righteous indignation about the pedophile monster illuminated in the pages before us; again, to reach such an elementary conclusion is to have been deviously led astray. Maybe that is the conclusion he wants us to draw, the box all ready in which to place the though. To accept such an idea would be to let Humbert of the hook and relinquish him from pouring out his true heart and sole, an act that would leave him naked, paper thing and vulnerable. For Humbert is no a ordinary pedophile per se. (firstly define pedophile) he is an aesthete of some regard, a hopeless romantic child who never outgrew the love or loss of his childhood sweetheart, and who remains that child locked in the cage of an adult's body, forever in search of her scent. Lolita is not his love, his life as he once pondered his love is the past, his innocence his childhood he is eternally in seek of that moment one summer when he first encountered Annabel and first realised he was alive.

What is interesting to note in the novel is the multitude of layers present throughout. Humbert's own voices are numerous and span the spectrum of mental states. Sometimes deluded, sometimes psychotic, sometimes insane and occasionally rational we are given a veritable tour of Humbert's psyche. Peeling the layers away we also find a disparity between what Humbert would like to do (has he the chance, etc.) and what he actually did. One cannot help but feel that numerous comments penned in respect of his sexual exploits were simply he ego breaking forth in boastful prowess. The real Humber too nervous to do other than sit in the dark smoking cigarettes, watching Dolores sleep.

This is ultimately an immensely complex and profound work. A novel that really hits its mark. It needs to be approached with an open mind and a steady aim, for if you go of course or let your emotions run wild you will not enjoy the ride. And a memorable ride it is.

In many ways this book reminded me of another fantastic work 'American Beauty', in both works there are more than the occasional parallel drawn and in both works the author undoubtedly sets out to question our self-righteous Victorian pseudo moral principles. Principles we all charter and guard so dearly as if to prove by our distaste that we are upstanding citizens.