Lolita
(Vladmir Nabokov)

The novel opens in a forward written by fictional doctor John Ray Jr. He explains that he received a manuscript from a man going by the name of Humbert Humbert (H.H.) who has recently died in prison while awaiting trial.

Humbert’s story begins when he is a thirteen year old boy, who is in love with his twelve year old friend Annabel, and he is devastated by her death shortly thereafter. He spends time getting mental help and becomes a professor of English, but remains haunted by her death and attracted to particularly young girls. Humbert moves to the United States and meets a widow named Charlotte Haze and her young daughter Dolores, who is also known as Lolita.

Humbert hates Charlotte but wishes to be close to Lolita so when Charlotte dies in an unexpected accident Humbert takes Lolita on a road trip. They share a torrid, strange, and controversial relationship where she uses him, and he loves her.

Eventually Lolita wishes to make friends her own age which sends Humbert into a jealous rage and he takes her on another trip, feeling as though they are being followed. Humbert takes Lolita to the hospital when she is ill and when he returns to pick her up he discovers she has left with her “uncle”. Humbert spends the next two years looking for Lolita, eventually receiving a letter from her asking for money and explaining that she is married and pregnant at seventeen.

When Humbert meets up with Lolita he tries to convince her to come back to him, but she refuses. She tells Humbert that Clare Quilty, a playwright, had taken her from the hospital but gotten rid of her when she refused to participate in child pornography. Humbert gives Lolita money and then leaves her to track down Quilty.

Humbert shoots and kills Quilty, which is why he is awaiting trial. Upon sending his manuscript to John Ray, he specifies that it not be published until Lolita dies, which she does in childbirth, with Humbert dying shortly after.