King, Queen, Knave
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| Author | Vladimir Nabokov |
|---|---|
| Language | Russian |
| Publisher | |
| Released |
King, Queen, Knave is a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov in 1928. It was published in Russian in October of that year, and was translated into English by Dimitri Nabokov (with significant changes made by the author) forty years after its Russian debut.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Franz, a young man from a small town, is sent away from home to work in the Berlin department store of his well-to-do uncle, Dreyer. On the train ride to Berlin Franz is seated in the same compartment with Dreyer and Dreyer's wife, Martha, neither of which Franz has met. Franz is immediately enchanted by Martha's beauty, and, shortly after Franz begins work at the store, the two strike up a love affair.
As the novel continues Martha's distaste for her husband grows more pronounced, and with it her adoration for Franz. Franz, meanwhile, begins to lose any will of his own, and becomes a numb extension of his lover. Dreyer, meanwhile, continues to lavish blind adulation on his wife, and is only hurt, not suspicious, when she returns his love with resentment.
As her relationship with Franz deepens, Martha begins to hatch schemes for Dreyer's demise. As part of Martha's plans, the three vacation together at a lake, in which Dreyer, who cannot swim, is to be drowned. The plan fails, and soon thereafter Martha is stricken with a heart ailment. To Dreyer's great sorrow, and Franz's indifference, she does not survive.
[edit] Trivia
The author and his wife, though not identified, are portrayed near the end of the novel as an odd couple traveling with a butterfly net, which is taken for a fishing net by the characters.
[edit] Film adaptation
A film adaptation, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski and starring Gina Lollobrigida, David Niven and John Moulder-Brown, was released in 1972.
[edit] References
- King, Queen, Knave, First Edition, McGraw-Hill Inc., 1968
