Books

Two volumes. First edition, first issues (with "Francs: 900" to both rear wrappers). Publisher's original green wrappers, with white border to front wrappers, lettered in black. Near fine set, very fresh and clean internally, with some tiny nicks to spines and wrapper edges, light wear to spine ends, and a small light area of dampstaining to front endleaf. Overall, a standout copy of Nabokov's all-time classic. Housed in a custom half green morocco clamshell box. A controversial novel due to its racy subject matter, Lolita tells the story of Humbert Humbert, a professor of literature with a penchant for pre-teen "nymphets." Specifically, Nabokov chronicles the unstable narrator's romantic interest in Dolores Haze, the daughter of his landlord and wife, whom he privately nicknames "Lolita." Lolita was first published in 1955 as part of The Olympia Press' The Traveller's Companion series, which included other literary classics like Henry Miller's Quiet Days in Clichy (1956) and William S. Burroughs' The Naked Lunch (1959). The Olympia Press was well known for its liberal selection of literature; many English-speaking authors published their books with Olympia in Paris after being rejected by other publishing houses. Notably, in 1962, Lolita was adapted into a film by Stanley Kubrick starring Sue Lyon and James Mason.

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.