| Laughter in the Dark | |
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First US edition |
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| Author(s) | Vladimir Nabokov |
| Original title | Камера обскура |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | Russian |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Bobbs-Merrill Company |
| Publication date | 1932 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 292 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8112-0708-0 (1978 English edition) & ISBN 5-306-00189-0 (2001 Russian edition) |
| OCLC Number | 4562864 |
Laughter in the Dark (Original Russian title: Камера обскура, Kamera obskura) is a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov and serialised in Sovremennye Zapiski released in 1932.[1]
The first English translation, Camera Obscura, was made by Winifred Roy and published in London in 1936 by Johnathan Long, the paperback imprint of Hutchinson Publishing, with the author credited as Vladimir Nabokoff-Sirin. Nabokov was so displeased by the translation's quality that he undertook his own translation, which was published in 1938 under the now common name, Laughter in the Dark. It is sometimes mistakenly assumed that he was not fond of the book, yet in fact it was based on very personal breakthroughs in his life.
The book deals with the affection of a middle-aged man for a very young woman, resulting in a mutually parasitic relationship. In 1955, Nabokov used this theme again with Lolita to a much differently developed effect. He again used this theme to the most extreme in Ada.
The books he produced in 1932-34, Glory, Laughter in The Dark, and Despair, were all very closely related, as they were reflective of the happenings in Nabokov's life. And although Ada, Pnin, and especially Pale Fire, are showcases to his genius, Laughter In the Dark stands as part of a triad of development, showing that it was not about what Nabokov was writing, but about what he was doing to the reader and himself. Pnin is actually a revisited form of the same style later on in his career.
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The characters were given different names in the English translation. In the following list the names of the main characters of the English translation are given first with the original names in parentheses.
Some minor characters include (from the English version):
Albinus is a respected, reasonably happy married art critic who lives in Berlin. He lusts after the 18-year old Margot whom he meets at a cinema, where she works, and seduces her over the course of many encounters. His prolonged affair with Margot is eventually revealed to Elisabeth when Margot deliberately sends a letter to the Albinus residence and Albert is unable to intercept it before it is discovered. This results in the dissolution of the Albinus' marriage. Rather than disown the young troublemaker he is even more attracted to her. Margot uses him to become a film star, her ambition in life. Albinus introduces Margot to Axel Rex, but he does not know the two had previously been lovers. Margot and Rex resume their relationship, and start plotting to get Albinus out of the way and rob him of his money. Rex sees the opportunities that Albinus's infatuation with Margot produces, and understands that even a great risk is little to the blind and helpless; in love, in loss, and in dwindling fortune.
Albinus delivers Margot her first role as an actress, but she does not appear to be very talented. In fact, what she possesses in beauty is best captured by the imagination rather than even a still camera. Only Albinus' wealth ensures she gets to play her role. Margot realized she played the role poorly, and Albinus worried about her reaction. Rex, however, adored seeing the girl from the streets suffer, and took the opportunity to use her ineptitude. After Margot becomes upset upon viewing the film, Albinus coaxes her into taking a holiday to the south. They rent a hotel room and, after a chance encounter with an old friend, Albinus happens to surmise that Margot and Rex are engaged in an affair. He had always been envious of Rex as he was the truest of the artists, unlike him. He stole beautiful young things from Albinus his whole life and this was not different. Albinus steals away with Margot and leaves Rex at the hotel. On their journey out of town, Albinus, a self-proclaimed poor driver, crashes the car and is blinded, leaving him in need of care and oblivious to the world around him.
Rex and Margot take advantage of his handicap and rent a chalet in Switzerland where Rex poses as Albinus' doctor, although Albinus is unaware of Rex's presence. Unknown to Albinus he was being mocked and tortured during his recovery. He becomes increasingly suspicious as his ears become more attuned and he perceives someone's presence, but his fears are never confirmed. Paul, a friend to the family, after suspecting forgery (Rex and Margot have been bleeding Albinus' accounts dry by feigning his hand on cheques), drives to the residence and discovers Rex toying with Albinus in his blinded state. Paul then escorts Albinus back to his ex-wife, Elizabet's, home. After a short time, Albinus receives a call that Fraulein Peters (Margot) has returned to his flat to collect some things. Knowing that she is coming, he decides to kill her. Without haste, he heads to Margot's flat and makes his way to the apartment, trapping her inside by barricading the door, intending to shoot her with his pistol. He seeks her out by her scent and faint sounds but when he tries to shoot her she overpowers him, grabs the pistol, and kills him.
In 1969, Laughter in the Dark was adapted for film directed by Tony Richardson, which would originally star Richard Burton as Albinus. When he was fired for drunkenness, he was replaced by Nicol Williamson. Anna Karina played the role of Margot, Jean-Claude Drouot played the role of Axel Rex.
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