Pnin

Main Ideas

• Theme of emigration and adaptation: The main character, Timofey Pnin, a Russian émigré, tries to find his place in American society, facing cultural and language barriers.
• Irony and humor: Nabokov employs an ironic and humorous style to depict Pnin's life, highlighting his eccentricity and clumsiness.
• Theme of loneliness: Pnin often feels isolated and lonely, despite his efforts to connect with those around him.
• Identity issues: Pnin grapples with questions of self-identity, trying to preserve his Russian culture while adapting to American life.
• Memory and the past: The book is rich with Pnin's memories of the past, which influence his present and shape his personality.