Laughter in the Dark

Interesting Facts

• The book was originally written in Russian under the title "Camera Obscura," but Nabokov later translated it into English himself and changed the title to "Laughter in the Dark."
• The novel's protagonist, Albinus, is a successful art critic who loses everything because of his passion for a young woman.
• One of the central themes is illusion versus reality, reflected in the original title "Camera Obscura," which refers to a device that creates optical illusions.
• The novel explores the destructive consequences of blind love and deception, a recurring theme in many of Nabokov's works.
• The book was adapted into a film in 1969, directed by Tony Richardson and starring Nicol Williamson and Anna Karina.