"Lolita", a controversial novel by Vladimir Nabokov, follows Humbert Humbert, a literature professor obsessed with 12-year-old Dolores Haze, whom he nicknames "Lolita". After becoming her stepfather, he kidnaps and sexually abuses her. Published in Paris in 1955 due to censorship concerns, the novel sparked controversy for its exploration of hebephilia and remains a complex and debated work of literature.
1910: Humbert Humbert is Born
According to the fictitious foreword by John Ray Jr., Humbert Humbert, the protagonist of "Lolita", is born in Paris in 1910 to an English mother and a Swiss father.
1916: Discovery of a German Short Story Titled "Lolita"
Michael Maar discovered a 1916 German short story titled "Lolita" with a plot resembling Nabokov's work. This discovery raised questions about potential inspiration and cryptomnesia.
1926: "A Nursery Tale" Published
Nabokov's short story "A Nursery Tale," published in 1926, touched upon the theme of hebephilia, a theme he would later explore more extensively in "Lolita."
1928: Nabokov Writes Poem "Lilith"
Nabokov explores the theme of an alluring underage girl and a humiliated male protagonist in his 1928 poem "Lilith." This theme would later reappear in his other works.
1932: "Laughter in the Dark" Published
Nabokov's novel "Laughter in the Dark," published in 1932, features a relationship between a middle-aged man and a 16-year-old girl, a theme that would resurface in "Lolita."
December 6, 1933: Landmark Obscenity Ruling Referenced in "Lolita"
The foreword to "Lolita" references the December 6, 1933, ruling in the United States v. One Book Called Ulysses case, which declared James Joyce's Ulysses not obscene.
1935: "The Gift" and a Familiar Plotline
In his 1935 novel "The Gift," Nabokov presents a plotline similar to "Lolita," where a man marries a widow to gain access to her young daughter.
1937: Nabokov's Time in Berlin and Potential Exposure to Earlier "Lolita"
Until 1937, Nabokov lived in the same area of Berlin as Heinz von Eschwege, the author of the 1916 "Lolita" story. This proximity suggests Nabokov might have been familiar with von Eschwege's work.
1939: Similarities Between "The Enchanter" and "Lolita"
Nabokov's 1939 work "The Enchanter" features a similar scenario to "Lolita" with a child molester and victim posing as father and daughter.
1939: Nabokov Completes "The Enchanter"
Nabokov finished his novella "The Enchanter" in 1939, a story that shares similarities with "Lolita" in its exploration of hebephilia.
April 1947: Nabokov Shares Idea for a Novel with Edmund Wilson
In April 1947, Nabokov wrote to Edmund Wilson about his idea for a novel titled "The Kingdom by the Sea," which would later evolve into "Lolita."
1947: Humbert Meets Dolores
In 1947, Humbert Humbert moves to Ramsdale, New England. While seeking a new home after a fire, he meets Charlotte Haze and her 12-year-old daughter Dolores, whom he nicknames "Lolita". He becomes infatuated with Dolores and decides to lodge with them.
1948: The Florence Horner Kidnapping Case
In 1948, 11-year-old Florence Horner was kidnapped by 50-year-old Frank La Salle. This case, while not widely reported, bears similarities to the events in "Lolita" and is suggested as a possible inspiration for the novel.
1948: Nabokov Directly References the Horner Case in "Lolita"
Nabokov directly references the 1948 Florence Horner kidnapping case in Chapter 33 of Part II of "Lolita," drawing a parallel between Humbert's actions and those of Frank La Salle.
1952: Dolores' Death
As revealed in the foreword, Dolores dies in childbirth on Christmas Day in 1952. This event precedes the main narrative of the novel.
December 1953: Nabokov Completes "Lolita"
Vladimir Nabokov completes writing "Lolita" in December 1953, five years after beginning the controversial work. He initially considers publishing it pseudonymously due to its subject matter.
September 1955: Lolita's Initial Publication and Early Reception
In September 1955, "Lolita" was published as a pair of green paperbacks. Despite selling out its initial print run, the book received no significant reviews until Graham Greene praised it in the London Sunday Times later that year.
1955: Lolita is Published
Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel, "Lolita", addressing the taboo subject of hebephilia, was published in Paris by Olympia Press in 1955. This decision came after fears of censorship in the U.S. and Britain, where Nabokov originally intended to publish it.
December 1956: "Lolita" Banned in France
In December 1956, France banned "Lolita" after the Minister of the Interior deemed it obscene. This ban lasted for two years.
1956: On a Book Entitled Lolita
In 1956, Nabokov wrote an afterword to Lolita, titled "On a Book Entitled Lolita," which was included in the first U.S. edition and subsequent publications.
1956: null
By 1956, Nabokov observed that people were no longer naming their daughters Lolita, although the name was being given to pet poodles.
August 1958: "Lolita"'s American Debut and Commercial Success
Despite initial concerns, "Lolita" was published in the U.S. without official opposition in August 1958. The book became an instant bestseller, despite a negative review from New York Times reviewer Orville Prescott.
1958: "Lolita" Published in North America
In 1958, "Lolita" was published in North America, the same year the fictional Hurricane Lolita is mentioned in Nabokov's novel "Pale Fire."
1958: Dorothy Parker Reviews "Lolita"
In 1958, Dorothy Parker publishes her review of "Lolita", describing it as the story of a cultured man who can only love little girls and characterizing Lolita as a "dreadful little creature".
1958: Lionel Trilling on the Moral Dilemma of "Lolita"
Literary critic Lionel Trilling, in 1958, highlights the moral challenge readers face when engaging with Humbert Humbert's eloquent and self-deceptive narration in "Lolita".
1959: Controversial Publication in Britain
In 1959, the publication of "Lolita" in Britain by Weidenfeld & Nicolson sparked controversy, contributing to the end of Conservative MP Nigel Nicolson's political career.
1959: Robertson Davies on the Theme of "Lolita"
Novelist Robertson Davies, in 1959, offers a different interpretation of "Lolita", suggesting the theme revolves around a weak adult being exploited by a corrupt child, a perspective he claims is familiar to social workers and psychiatrists.
1962: Hurricane Lolita in "Pale Fire"
Nabokov's 1962 novel "Pale Fire" includes a mention of Hurricane Lolita, a fictional hurricane that shares the same name as his controversial novel.
1962: First Film Adaptation of Lolita
Stanley Kubrick directed the first film adaptation of "Lolita", bringing the controversial story to the big screen in 1962.
1967: Nabokov Translates "Lolita" into Russian
In 1967, Vladimir Nabokov himself translated "Lolita" into Russian. This edition was published in New York City by Phaedra Publishers.
1967: Nabokov on Societal Norms and "Lolita"
In a 1967 interview, Nabokov responds to a question about the perceived societal acceptance of relationships between older men and young girls, highlighting the moral complexities presented in "Lolita".
1974: "Look at the Harlequins!" Published
Nabokov's 1974 novel "Look at the Harlequins!" features a "Lolita"-like book within the story and explores themes of obsession and age differences.
1986: "The Enchanter" Published Posthumously
Nabokov's novella "The Enchanter" was published posthumously in 1986, offering readers a glimpse into his earlier exploration of themes present in "Lolita."
1997: Second Film Adaptation of Lolita
Adrian Lyne directed a second film adaptation of "Lolita" in 1997, reintroducing the controversial novel to a new generation.
2003: Azar Nafisi Publishes "Reading Lolita in Tehran"
Azar Nafisi publishes "Reading Lolita in Tehran", a memoir about a women's reading group, in 2003. Nafisi contrasts the sorrowful and seductive sides of Dolores/Lolita's character in an NPR interview.
2008: "Approaches to Teaching Nabokov's Lolita" Published
In 2008, the book "Approaches to teaching Nabokov's Lolita" was published, exploring how to teach the novel in college classrooms given its challenging subject matter.
2009: Brian Cox's Stage Monologue
Actor Brian Cox performs a one-man stage monologue based on "Lolita" in 2009, emphasizing the perspective of Humbert Humbert and the nature of memory in the novel.
2015: Joanne Harris Addresses the Enduring Controversy of "Lolita"
In 2015, author Joanne Harris wrote an article for The Independent discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding "Lolita." She argued the novel's power comes from its sensuality rather than explicit content.
2020: Podcast Examines the Cultural Legacy of "Lolita"
In 2020, a podcast hosted by Jamie Loftus investigated the cultural impact of "Lolita," arguing that adaptations have often misrepresented Nabokov's intention to condemn Humbert.