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Pnin

Pnin

ClassicsContemporary Literature
Pages
194
Published
1965
Language
English

Synopsis

Meet Professor Timofey Pnin, a middle-aged Russian émigré navigating the peculiar landscape of a small American college in the 1950s. With his charmingly imperfect English and a past he can't quite escape, Pnin finds himself in a series of comical and sometimes bewildering situations. This novel offers a warm and humorous look at the challenges of assimilation and the enduring spirit of an academic adrift in a new world.

Genres

Classics Contemporary Literature Literary Fiction

Authors

E
Enrique Murillo

Enrique Murillo is a Spanish writer and translator known for his work on the novel Pnin. He focuses on literary fiction and has spent much of his career working as an editor and critic in the publishing

V
Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (Russian: Влади́мир Влади́мирович Набо́ков; 23 April [O.S. 10 April] 1899c – 2 July 1977) was a multilingual Russian-American novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist. He also made contributions to entomology and had an interest in chess problems. Nabokov's Lolita (1955) is frequently cited as among his most important novels and is his most widely kn...

Characters

Timofey PninProtagonist
All characters in Pnin

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Pnin connected to other Nabokov novels?

    Pnin features a character who also appears in Nabokov's later novel, Pale Fire, providing a subtle link within his broader literary universe. While it can be read independently, this connection offers an interesting layer for readers familiar with his other works.

  • What inspired the character of Pnin?

    The character of Timofey Pnin is widely considered to be a composite, drawing inspiration from several Russian émigré professors Nabokov encountered during his own academic career in America. This lends an authentic, lived-in quality to Pnin's experiences and observations.