54 Years Ago Today, One Of The Most Controversial & Greatest Novels Was First Published In America

In his whole life, he made only two attempts
to drive. In 1915, by himself, he maneuvered

his family’s convertible into a ditch. In 1950,
with his wife sitting beside him, he “narrowly

missed crashing into the only car standing at
the far end of a spacious parking lot.”

*

Keep this in mind the next time that you read (or
re-read) “Lolita.” Vladimir Nabokov’s acclaimed

novel took place largely on the road and provided
millions of book lovers across the world with the

greatest literary ride of their lives. The only thing
Nabokov could never give us was a lift home.