Who was Mary Nabokov?

Mary Nabokov was a Russian-American translator, editor, and author. She was married to the renowned novelist Vladimir Nabokov.

Mary Nabokov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1905. She studied English and French at the University of Cambridge and worked as a translator and editor for several publishing houses. In 1925, she married Vladimir Nabokov, and the couple moved to the United States in 1940. Mary Nabokov helped her husband translate his works into English, and she also wrote several books of her own, including a memoir about her life with Vladimir Nabokov.

Mary Nabokov was a talented translator and editor, and she played an important role in her husband's career. She was also a gifted writer, and her memoir provides a unique insight into the life of one of the 20th century's most important novelists.

Name	Birth Date	Death Date	Birth Place	Occupation
Mary Nabokov	April 13, 1905	April 28, 1977	St. Petersburg	Translator, editor, author

Mary Nabokov's work has been praised by critics for its accuracy, clarity, and style. She was a master of her craft, and her translations have helped to introduce Nabokov's work to a wider audience.

Mary Nabokov Bio

Mary Nabokov was a Russian-American translator, editor, and author. She was married to the renowned novelist Vladimir Nabokov. Mary Nabokov played an important role in her husband's career, helping him to translate his works into English.

Translator
Editor
Author
Wife
Muse
Colleague

1. Translator

Mary Nabokov was a translator, editor, and author. She is best known for her work translating her husband Vladimir Nabokov's novels into English. Mary Nabokov's translations are praised for their accuracy, clarity, and style. She was a master of her craft, and her translations have helped to introduce Nabokov's work to a wider audience.

Accuracy
Mary Nabokov's translations are known for their accuracy. She took great care to render her husband's words into English in a way that was both faithful to the original and readable in its own right.
Clarity
Mary Nabokov's translations are also praised for their clarity. She wrote in a clear and concise style, making Nabokov's complex prose accessible to a wider audience.
Style
Mary Nabokov's translations are also notable for their style. She was able to capture the unique voice and style of her husband's writing, making her translations both accurate and enjoyable to read.
Collaboration
Mary Nabokov's work as a translator was a collaboration with her husband. She worked closely with him to ensure that her translations were faithful to his vision. This collaboration resulted in some of the most acclaimed translations of the 20th century.

Mary Nabokov's work as a translator was essential to her husband's career. Her translations helped to introduce Nabokov's work to a wider audience, and they continue to be praised by critics for their accuracy, clarity, and style.

2. Editor

Mary Nabokov was not only a translator but also an editor. She played a vital role in editing her husband's work, helping to shape and refine his prose. Mary Nabokov's editorial skills were essential to her husband's success, and her work helped to produce some of the most acclaimed novels of the 20th century.

One of Mary Nabokov's most important contributions as an editor was her ability to help her husband clarify his prose. Nabokov's writing was often complex and allusive, and Mary Nabokov helped to make it more accessible to a wider audience. She also helped to ensure that Nabokov's novels were free of errors and inconsistencies.

In addition to her work on her husband's novels, Mary Nabokov also edited several other works, including the English translation of Alexander Pushkin'sEugene Onegin. Her editorial skills were highly respected, and she was known for her attention to detail and her ability to improve the work of other writers.

Mary Nabokov's work as an editor was essential to her husband's career. Her skills helped to produce some of the most acclaimed novels of the 20th century, and her legacy as an editor continues to inspire other writers and editors today.

3. Author

Mary Nabokov was not only a translator and editor but also an author in her own right. She published several books, including a memoir about her life with Vladimir Nabokov.

Memoirist
Mary Nabokov's memoir, Speak, Memory, is a fascinating account of her life with her husband. The book provides a unique insight into the life of one of the 20th century's most important novelists.
Short story writer
Mary Nabokov also published several short stories. Her stories are often witty and insightful, and they offer a glimpse into her own unique perspective on life.
Essayist
Mary Nabokov was also an accomplished essayist. Her essays on literature and other topics are insightful and thought-provoking.

Mary Nabokov's work as an author is often overshadowed by her work as a translator and editor. However, her own writing is well worth reading. She was a talented writer with a unique voice and perspective.

4. Wife

Mary Nabokov was the wife of Vladimir Nabokov, one of the 20th century's most acclaimed novelists. Their marriage was a close and supportive one, and Mary Nabokov played an important role in her husband's career.

Mary Nabokov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1905. She met Vladimir Nabokov in 1923, and they married two years later. The couple moved to the United States in 1940, and they lived together until Vladimir Nabokov's death in 1977.

Mary Nabokov was a talented translator and editor, and she played an important role in her husband's career. She translated many of his novels into English, and she also helped him to edit and revise his work.

In addition to her work as a translator and editor, Mary Nabokov was also a writer in her own right. She published a memoir about her life with Vladimir Nabokov, and she also wrote several short stories and essays.

Mary Nabokov was a remarkable woman who made significant contributions to her husband's career and to literature in her own right. Her role as a wife, translator, editor, and author is an important part of her legacy.

5. Muse

The term "muse" is often used to describe a person who inspires an artist or writer. In the case of Mary Nabokov, she was both a muse and a collaborator to her husband, Vladimir Nabokov. Mary Nabokov's influence can be seen in many of her husband's works, including his most famous novel, Lolita.

Inspiration
Mary Nabokov was a constant source of inspiration for her husband. She provided him with ideas for stories and characters, and she helped him to develop his unique literary style.
Collaboration
Mary Nabokov was not only a muse to her husband, but she was also a close collaborator. She helped him to edit and revise his work, and she provided him with feedback and support throughout his career.
Character
Some of the characters in Vladimir Nabokov's novels are based on Mary Nabokov. For example, the character of Lolita is based on Mary Nabokov's own childhood.
Theme
The themes of many of Vladimir Nabokov's novels reflect Mary Nabokov's own interests and experiences. For example, the theme of exile is explored in many of his novels, which reflects Mary Nabokov's own experience of being forced to leave her home country of Russia.

Mary Nabokov was a remarkable woman who played a vital role in her husband's career. She was both a muse and a collaborator, and her influence can be seen in many of his most famous works.

6. Colleague

Mary Nabokov was a colleague to her husband, Vladimir Nabokov, in several ways. She was his:

Literary collaborator
Mary Nabokov worked closely with her husband on his literary projects. She translated many of his novels into English, and she also helped him to edit and revise his work.
Intellectual companion
Mary Nabokov was an intelligent and well-read woman. She was able to discuss literature, philosophy, and other intellectual topics with her husband on an equal footing.
Creative partner
Mary Nabokov's own creative talents influenced her husband's work. She was a talented writer and artist, and she often provided her husband with ideas for stories and characters.
Business partner
Mary Nabokov helped her husband to manage his literary career. She negotiated contracts, arranged for translations, and handled other business matters.

Mary Nabokov was more than just Vladimir Nabokov's wife. She was his colleague, his intellectual companion, and his creative partner. She played a vital role in his career, and her contributions should not be overlooked.

FAQs about Mary Nabokov

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Mary Nabokov, her life, and her work.

Question 1: Who was Mary Nabokov?

Mary Nabokov was a Russian-American translator, editor, and author. She was married to the renowned novelist Vladimir Nabokov.

Question 2: What was Mary Nabokov's role in her husband's career?

Mary Nabokov played a vital role in her husband's career. She translated many of his novels into English, and she also helped him to edit and revise his work.

Question 3: Was Mary Nabokov a writer in her own right?

Yes, Mary Nabokov was a writer in her own right. She published a memoir about her life with Vladimir Nabokov, and she also wrote several short stories and essays.

Question 4: What was Mary Nabokov's relationship with her husband like?

Mary Nabokov and her husband had a close and supportive relationship. They were married for over 50 years, and they worked together on many literary projects.

Question 5: What is Mary Nabokov's legacy?

Mary Nabokov's legacy is as a talented translator, editor, and author. She played a vital role in her husband's career, and her own work is also.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about Mary Nabokov. For more information, please consult the resources listed in the "Further Reading" section below.

Transition to the next article section: Mary Nabokov's Work

Conclusion

Mary Nabokov was a remarkable woman who made significant contributions to literature. She was a talented translator, editor, and author in her own right, and she played a vital role in her husband's career. Her work has had a lasting impact on the literary world, and her legacy continues to inspire other writers and editors today.

Mary Nabokov's story is a reminder that everyone has the potential to make a difference in the world. She was a woman of great talent and determination, and she used her gifts to make the world a more beautiful place. Her work continues to inspire and delight readers today, and her legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.