Invitation to a Beheading
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Book Review
«Invitation to a Beheading» by Vladimir Nabokov is a profound and multilayered novel that explores themes of absurdity, totalitarianism, and human freedom. The protagonist, Cincinnatus C., is sentenced to death for «gnostical turpitude», highlighting the absurdity and arbitrariness of accusations in a totalitarian society. Critics note that Nabokov masterfully uses language and symbolism to create an atmosphere of unreality and alienation. The novel is also seen as a metaphor for the artist's struggle against misunderstanding and hostility from the surrounding world. Literary critics highly praise the complexity and ambiguity of the work, as well as its philosophical depth and aesthetic sophistication.
Date of publication: 20 June 2024
———Invitation to a Beheading
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Genre: Classical literature