"Pale Fire"

"Pale Fire" by Vladimir Nabokov is a novel presented as a 999-line poem written by the fictional poet John Shade, accompanied by a detailed commentary by his eccentric neighbor, Charles Kinbote. The book blurs the lines between poetry, prose, and interpretation, exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the nature of art. Through this layered structure, Nabokov invites readers to question what is true and what is fabricated, as the commentary gradually reveals a complex, often unsettling story intertwined with Kinbote’s delusions. It’s a meditation on creativity, perception, and the interpretative process.