Is Lolita an erotic novel?

[Aly Jaffar]

I heard this from some readers, and some critics too. But can we classify this great work of Nabokov as "erotic novel"?

Actually I don't agree with this classification. First of all we have to consider the "subject" of the work. This novel is about Humbert Humbert, his obsession, satire of society, with Nabokov's dexterous style, with a lot of multilingual puns. The plot is not about sex (but we have to consider how sex affects a lot of things in the human being).

A novel which talks about a sexual obsession is not necessary an erotic one! and the most important evidence to dissaprove this classification: The first 13 chapters (of 36 chapters) are the ones which have all the sexual material.

I want to hear your views, thanks in advance.

[R.F. Schiller]

It is not an erotic novel because it has great literary merit and like you said "the plot is not about sex". A lot of the sex is also, at least in my opinion, showing the growing promiscuity of America (which was shocking to a European like Nabokov) in the 1950s.

But at the same time, several of the scenes in the first half of the novel are "very descriptive" and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little shaken.

[Aly Jaffar]

(which was shocking to a European like Nabokov) in the 1950s.

to a russian aristocrat from the pre-soviet era.

But at the same time, several of the scenes in the first half of the novel are "very descriptive" and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little shaken.

That's right, but this is just a description, which relates to "the obsession of Humbert Humbert" which is the main subject, the description of a sexual manner does not make a novel an erotic one.

[mona amon]

I wouldn't call it an erotic novel either, but it does have one of the most erotic scenes ever (the Davenport scene).

[Aly Jaffar]

I wouldn't call it an erotic novel either, but it does have one of the most erotic scenes ever (the Davenport scene).

I would say: One of "the most well-written" erotic scenes ever.

[R.F. Schiller]

to a russian aristocrat from the pre-soviet era.

Well, I use "European" because he only spent his life as a Russian Aristocrat up to his youth. He spent more years in Berlin + Paris than Russia before arriving in America.

On a side note, I think that Nabokov's Ada, or Ardor (1968) is twice as "erotic" as Lolita, yet it doesn't really get mentioned much because

1) Lolita is far more famous
2) People are more sensitive to pedophilia than incest

[cacian]

Lolita is not a novel it is a book.
secondly a child versus an adult in a serial sexual tempo is not erotic it is neurotic.

[Lykren]

Lolita is not a novel it is a book.
secondly a child versus an adult in a serial sexual tempo is not erotic it is neurotic.

One of cacian's best quotes.

[wordeater]

It isn't an erotic novel, because it isn't explicit at all.

[Frostball]

I'm actually reading Lolita for the first time, and I'm very near the end. I'm really enjoying it, but no, I don't think it's an erotic novel. I'm with a couple other people here, it's about obsession, maturity maybe, and it's funny and witty, but not erotic.

[DATo]

It depends on who is reading it.

[romeoindespair]

The back of mine says and I quote "The only convincing love story of our century". I'd like to know what that idiot was smoking.

Humbret lives in constant delusion. He actually thinks Lo is going to want to stay with him forever and thinks she should be grateful to him for blowing up her life. She spends most of the second half trying to get the hell away. And then when she finally leaves he acts like he wasn't expecting it.

[stellatetorija]

I actually completely agree that it is "the only convincing love story of our century." That's what the book is about, at its core - a certain type of obsessive love, yes, steeped in eroticism. As for it being an erotic book, I agree with DATo - it depends on who's reading it. If you get off on sublime English phrasing, then yes, it is erotic for you! :P

dissectinglolita.com

[desiresjab]

When I read it years ago it did not seem erotic to me. I went along as a rider with Humbert, an observer who did not approve of his actions but was fascinated by the maneuvering of his mind. Now that I am an older geezer than Humbert was, it might seem more erotic, but I cannot invest the time to read it again.