Insomniac Dreams

Nabokov's dream diary, published for the first time--and placed in biographical and literary context

On October 14th, 1964, Vladimir Nabokov, a lifelong insomniac, began a curious experiment. Over the next eighty days, immediately upon waking, he wrote down his dreams, following the instructions he found in An Experiment with Time by the British philosopher John Dunne. The purpose was to test the theory that time may go in reverse, so that, paradoxically, a later event may generate an earlier dream. The result--published here for the first time--is a fascinating diary in which Nabokov recorded sixty-four dreams (and subsequent daytime episodes) on 118 index cards, which afford a rare glimpse of the artist at his most private. More than an odd biographical footnote, the experiment grew out of Nabokov's passionate interest in the mystery of time, which influenced many of his novels, including the late masterpiece Ada.

Insomniac Dreams, edited by leading Nabokov authority Gennady Barabtarlo, presents the text of Nabokov's dream experiment, illustrated with a selection of his original index cards, and provides rich annotations and analysis that put them in the context of his life and writings. The book also includes previously unpublished records of Nabokov's dreams from his letters and notebooks and shows important connections between his fiction and private writings on dreams and time.

Jurnalul de vis al lui Nabokov, publicat pentru prima data - si plasat in context biografic si literar La 14 octombrie 1964, Vladimir Nabokov, un insomn de-a lungul vietii, a inceput un experiment curios. In urmatoarele optzeci de zile, imediat dupa trezire, el si-a notat visele, urmand instructiunile pe care le-a gasit in Un experiment cu timpul de catre filosoful britanic John Dunne.