Pale Fire

Historical Context and Significance

Vladimir Nabokov's «Pale Fire» is a significant work in 20th-century literature due to its unique structure and complexity. The book consists of a 999-line poem written by the fictional poet John Shade and the commentary by his eccentric editor Charles Kinbote. This work explores themes of art, reality, and madness, while inviting the reader to actively participate in interpreting the text. «Pale Fire» has had a considerable influence on postmodern literature, inspiring authors to experiment with form and narrative. The book also raises questions about the nature of authorship and reader perception, making it an important subject of study in literary criticism.