About this episode
Joan Baum reviews Nabokov's 'Lolita', highlighting its controversial nature and eloquent writing.
Lolita, the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, still stirs controversy seven decades after its first publication. The basic storyline is infamous. WSHU’s Book Critic Joan Baum says what often gets overlooked is Nabokov’s eloquent writing and his examination of how unchecked desire destroys lives.
People in this episode
Host: Joan Baum
Topics covered
- literature
- book review
- controversy
- desire
- writing style
Keywords
- Nabokov
- Lolita
- book review
- literary analysis
- controversy
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Lolita
More episodes of Baum on Books
- Commencing your life: A few reflections by Joan Baum · June 4, 2026 · 5 min
- Book Review: 'A Journey North' · May 21, 2026 · 5 min
- Book Review: 'Flesh' · May 7, 2026 · 5 min
- Book Review: 'The Correspondent' · April 23, 2026 · 5 min
- Book Review: 'Illusions of Trust' · April 9, 2026 · 5 min
- Book Review: 'The Long Goodbye' · March 12, 2026 · 6 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Baum on Books podcast page.