Invitation to a Beheading is an excellent novel and, as such, it is difficult. You can't read it in one gulp; it's better to devour it in small doses. Give me just one example of a good book that is easy to read! I don't know such a masterpiece.

We don't know where and when the events related by the omniscient narrator of the novel take place. If we go by the proper names, probably in Russia. Anyway, in a dreamlike country, or rather, in an upside-down world, carnivalesque and abject. The male characters use perfume lavishly, respect exemplary politeness and have a touching care for the good disposition of the victim. The officials are very mannered. For example, in order to spare him an undeserved shock, the Judge whispers the sentence to the accused Cincinnatus C (as prescribed by the Law). He will be beheaded with kindness. He is transported to the fortress and locked in a (relatively) comfortable prison.

The guard - a certain Rodion - greets him with undisguised joy, his face is always "illuminated by kindness". At first, he invites Cincinnatus to a waltz. The prison staff thus experiences a festive moment. The Director greets him with "Welcome!". Cincinnatus receives a cell with walls of a merciless yellow, with a window of a burning ochre, with a light bulb in the ceiling. Austere, but comfortable.

Gradually, the absurd insinuates itself into the narrative. The Director's visit becomes a visit to the Director: the Director Rodrig Ivanovici enters the condemned man's cell and, at the end of the conversation, the prisoner leaves his office. Another time, Cincinnatus C. walks freely through the dungeon, along corridors and stairs, goes out into a small courtyard. And since the password is silence, he passes through several gates without being stopped by anyone. He leaves "the hazy colossus of the fortress" without hesitation and goes into the town, arrives home, climbs the stairs, pushes the door and enters the prison cell again. As if he had come full circle...

Of course, Cincinnatus sits in the cell in a black dressing gown, stained with ash, wears a black skullcap of a philosopher on his head and, when he is not visited by the Director and the guard, he makes notes in his journal. He knows that he has no talent for writing, nor a vocation as a poet, but he was born with "a criminal intuition" in the arrangement of words in sentences. He doesn't insist. In this universe, everything is baseless.

Of course, it's no longer necessary to say: Cincinnatus will die without finding out what he did wrong. We have found, however, a few suggestions. He himself says that he committed a "gnoseological misdemeanor", so he suffers from "cognitive turpitude". He wants to know too much, if I understood correctly. In the end, Cincinnatus is not transparent like other people, he is impermeable to light. His sin is to be different.

It's no longer necessary to say that on the eve of the execution, the notables of the town give a banquet in honour of the condemned man. He sits at the head of the table. Cincinnatus is served by lackey, fiddler Pierre. Is it still worth saying that Vladimir Nabokov's novel is of a demential humour?

A degenerated system can still hold a certain intimidation. This is the atmosphere that continuously circulates within this novel for me. The word 'Invitation' in the title might give the impression that the novel exudes voluntariness - but that is not the case. Throughout, it has an eerie character. This is mainly influenced by the reason for Cincinnatus's conviction, described as 'gnostical turpitude'. For me, this boils down to the idea that if you think for yourself rather than conform to the mainstream, you are a danger to society. The eeriness is further enhanced by the peculiar sense of humour that Nabokov has infused into the novel. However, it doesn't really become funny. It is one large mass of absurdism, with Cincinnatus on the one hand in despair, and on the other hand, left alone in - apparently - the outside world of the fortress where he is imprisoned. Sometimes he observes himself from outside of himself.

Somehow, after reading, it made me think of the part 'Marche au supplice' in Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique’ where the artist sees himself led to the scaffold. The sounds are wonderfully evocative, harsh, eerie, lovely, and romantic, yet with a far more realistic musical narrative. JM (3,5*)

In this truly strange and irrational world, Cincinnatus has been unjustly convicted and sentenced to death by beheading for the so-called gnostical turpitude, an entirely imaginary crime that lacks any proper definition.

Cincinnatus spends his remaining days languishing in prison, where he is visited by the fantastical jailers, an executioner who disguises himself as a prisoner, and his in-laws.

When the fateful day of his execution arrives, Cincinnatus simply wills his executioners out of existence, and they vanish, along with the entire world they inhabit.

There is no doubt that "Invitation to a Beheading" is a weird novel. Often compared to Franz Kafka's "The Castle," it's crucial to note that Vladimir Nabokov had not read any German novels, let alone Kafka, when penning this work.

This fact is significant as it helps us avoid making unfounded comparisons between the two novels. While they may share some similarities, they are also vastly different.

Originally published as a serial under the title "Sovremennye Zapiski (Contemporary Notes)," Nabokov has stated that while "Lolita" holds his greatest affection, this novel holds his highest esteem.

Although people often label this work as Kafkaesque, the impossible and dreamlike world it presents reminds me more of Haruki Murakami's style. From the very beginning, the reader senses that something is amiss in this world, much like in "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World."

I had the impression that this wasn't reality but a world constructed in Cincinnatus' mind, based on his fears, doubts, and insecurities.

Cincinnatus' enemy is the society he has created, and the people within that society act according to absurd rules. We never learn what gnostical turpitude truly is, which may remind people of Kafka's "The Trial."

Cincinnatus is rebelling against the construction of this reality and the rules that the people of this society observe, perhaps making him a criminal in their eyes.

Maybe gnostical turpitude is the crime of being different from everyone else in this reality. Maybe Cincinnatus is being oppressed for his ideas and his nature.

Perhaps he is so distinct from those around him that he possesses an internal depth that others lack.

Similar to "Lolita," Vladimir Nabokov has a unique writing style that leaves the reader with numerous questions that require careful thought.

This entire reality and society presented in the novel leave me thoroughly perplexed. However, this is precisely the point; life isn't simple, and being an outsider can often feel like being Cincinnatus in a bizarre reality.

While this book primarily explores society and oppression, it also delves into human connection. Cincinnatus desires to connect with his wife Marthe, despite her unfaithfulness and lack of concern for him.

The one thing he craves more than anything is to establish a connection, and she seems like the logical choice, especially since he loves her.

He begs her to come alone and reveal her true self to him, but there is always something that interferes with their communication.

Although this was a very odd book, Vladimir Nabokov is an exceptionally brilliant writer, and that truly compensates for the weirdness.

The weird and bizarre elements serve as motifs within the narrative, and without the symbolism and meaning, it would simply be a trippy read.

Nabokov does an excellent job of weaving his messages and ideas while entertaining the reader in unexpected ways.

Most people only ever read "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov, and I believe that means they miss out on his true brilliance. I hope to read more of his works; currently, "Mary," "Pnin," and "Pale Fire" are on my To Be Read list. Are there any others that I should add?

This review originally appeared on my blog: http://literary-exploration.com/2013/...

Fifty pages in, I truly feel that I've given this a thorough examination and it's time for me to move on. When reading a book, one has to have an interest in something: perhaps it's the story, a particular character, or maybe even the writing technique. At the very least, there should be something that catches one's attention. However, for this book, nothing comes to mind.

While Nabokov stated in an interview that among all his novels, he had the greatest affection for Lolita, it was Invitation to a Beheading that he held in the highest esteem. At the same time, he said:

My advice to a budding literary critic would be as follows. Learn to distinguish banality. Remember that mediocrity thrives on "ideas." Beware of the modish message. Ask yourself if the symbol you have detected is not your own footprint. Ignore allegories. By all means place the "how" above the "what" but do not let it be confused with the "so what." Rely on the sudden erection of your small dorsal hairs. Do not drag in Freud at this point. All the rest depends on personal talent.

What a pretentious person!

I'm well aware that I'm being rather bold here, not conforming to the popular perception of Nabokov. But I firmly believe that the time will come when he is reevaluated and found to be lacking. As far as I can tell, he is overly clever to the point of being tiresome. To make writing truly engaging and not just banal, one needs more than just intellect. He's not only pretentious but also extremely smug, and one can't help but wonder why. It's not sufficient to simply sprinkle every page with cheesy sexual metaphors. Speaking of which, after reading the first few pages of this, I feel like my dorsal hairs couldn't stand up even with a dose of Viagra.

Tim Winton, please rescue me from this unhappy experience. Cloudstreet is my salvation.

A man is condemned to death because he is "opaque" (the meaning is not entirely clear to me), and the novel is essentially the account of his imprisonment while awaiting execution. The prison and its characters, as well as those of the city in the novel, are absurd and farcical. The only normal and human one is the protagonist, who understandably fears the execution and is exasperated by the grotesque situation.

It may seem like a Kafkaesque situation, but Nabokov's writing is very different from Kafka's, to hazard a similarity. Nabokov, as always, writes with his usual elegant and lush style, far from the Kafkaesque austerity.

It is a novel that is both diverting and dark, and yet another demonstration of Nabokov's incredible skill. However, at times I found it redundant, and at the beginning I found some of his stylistic "flourishes" a bit out of place.

Hapishane sakinlerinin görkemli kır manzaraları, dostlarla gezintiler, aile sofraları ve cinsel ilişki gibi içerikleri tutukluluk durumu ve statüsüyle bağdaşmayan gece düşleri görmeleri durumunda bunları anında bastırmaları.

Nabokov'un Rusça yazdığı kitaplardan biri olan İnfaza Çağrı düş kurmanın dahi kural ve mevzuat ile çevrelendiği bir hapishanede idamı bekleyen Cincinnatus'un hikayesi. Yazıldıktan çok sonra basılma imkanı bulan bu kitap az başını ağrıtmamış Nabokov'un. Edebi çevrelerce Kafka'nın Şato ve Dava'sı ile benzerliği bir intihal söylentisi çıkarmış. Ancak ben böyle bir intihali okurken hissetmedim ki Kafka'nın özellikle Dava'sından sonra bürokratik mekanizmaların ezdiği, hiçleştirip nesneleştirdiği her hikayede, filmde "Kafkaesk" sözünü duyuyoruz zaten.

Son olarak bir temenni ile bitireyim, umarım Lolita yerine İnfaza Çağrıyla hatırlanırsınız bir yüz yıl sonra pek saygıdeğer Nabokov efendi.

This text describes the situation of prisoners having dreams that don't match their incarceration status and how they must suppress them immediately. It also mentions Nabokov's novel "Invitation to a Beheading," which tells the story of Cincinnatus waiting for execution in a prison surrounded by rules and regulations. The novel was published long after it was written and has been compared to Kafka's works, with some accusing Nabokov of plagiarism. However, the author doesn't feel that there is plagiarism when reading the works, as the term "Kafkaesque" is often used to describe the bureaucratic oppression and dehumanization in Kafka's stories. Finally, the author expresses the hope that Nabokov will be remembered for "Invitation to a Beheading" rather than "Lolita" a hundred years from now.

As I turned the final page of this book, my eyes became misty, and the foreword of the book came to my mind.

Dear Nabokov, I was one of those readers who ruffled their hair, who had been sent into abstract prisons for gnostical turpitude.

I too have dreamed of another world, a world that was filled with vivid colors, a world that seemed more real and alive than this one.

I too have desired to take off my head like a toupee, then my collarbones like shoulder straps, then my rib cage as a hauberk, and then my hips, legs, and arms, and throw them all in a corner, just to see what would be left of me and watch it gradually dissolve.

This book has taken me on a journey, making me question my own perception of reality and the boundaries of my existence. It has made me long for something more, something beyond the ordinary.

Perhaps this is the power of great literature, to make us dream, to make us think, and to make us feel things we never thought possible.

As I close this book, I know that its words will stay with me, haunting my thoughts and inspiring me to look at the world in a different way.

I have deeply thought about this matter, and have arrived at the rather pleasing conclusion that this man, this so-called trilingual deity, is actually incapable of writing even a mediocre sentence.

It is truly reaching a point where it is no longer just a simple joke.

One would expect someone who claims to be proficient in three languages to be able to produce at least passable written work. However, it seems that this is not the case with him.

His inability to construct a decent sentence is rather astonishing and calls into question his supposed language skills.

It makes one wonder if his claims of trilingualism are perhaps exaggerated or if there are other factors at play.

In any case, it is clear that his writing abilities leave much to be desired.

Imagination versus reality, utopia versus dystopia. This work is often compared to Kafka's "The Trial" and Orwell's "1984".

There are several aspects that I liked. There is the constant feeling of watching an absurd theatre play, which adds a unique charm. Chapters 18 and 19 are particularly outstanding. In chapter 19, it is described as "absolutely delicious". The character of Pierre, the executioner, is one that you love to hate. The presence of the spider also adds an interesting element.

Cincinnatus, both the name and the character, are quite remarkable. The name sounds very brave and historical. As for the character, his continuous retreat from people and his writing, especially the wonderfully written soliloquies, make him a captivating figure.

However, I did kind of expect a bit more from it, considering it was highly praised by Azar Nafisi in "Reading Lolita in Tehran". But I'm sure it's just the kind of book you'd re-read in order to fully appreciate and understand its depth and beauty.

The best among the five Nabokov novels I have read (read: Lolita, Pnin, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, The Eye).

I have been enjoying the pleasure of reading for months and months. Mainly I did this because of the amazing language, because of its charm, ingenuity and poetry, because of the virtuosically manipulated combinations of words/phrases. If possible, read it in Russian (the original) language. The novel was started to be written when the author was already living in Nazi Germany in the 1934s. Published - in the 1936s.

A sad, ironic novel of absurdity about a man forced (not) to live in a completely vulgarized world in every sense.

If you are a fan of Kafka's novels "The Castle" or "The Trial" (I am among them) - then I also recommend this one to you.

The book was strange.

Sinister and the world of Zembla, a strange place full of rules and illogical events. In my opinion, Mr. Nabokov wrote this book with great pride and was waiting impatiently for anyone who said they didn't understand to be told that his book was very good despite their lack of understanding.

However, the reality is that I don't like this type of book that the author writes in such a way that ten interpretations can be made from it and in the end, there is still a lack of understanding of what the point is. Yes, I also read the analyses of the book like you and I know that apparently he wants to criticize the social space, but I'm not convinced.

Let's not even talk about the numerous and laborious descriptions in the book.

03/1/27

I saw this book as a profound exploration of relationships.

Cincinnatus, unjustly imprisoned for the absurd crime of having a unique personality, finds himself in a strange situation where his executioner not only cares for him but also dotes on him, completely oblivious to the reasons why the resentful Cincinnatus might dislike him.

This story teaches us valuable lessons about ourselves and the often-blurred lines in our love relationships. Sometimes, those who claim to love us the most can be the very ones who imprison us or metaphorically act as our executioners. Yet, they continue to love us in their own way. We tend to assume that those who love us will never cause us harm and those who hate us will always do so. However, the reality we experience is that the characters and behaviors can swap quite frequently.

We cannot simply hate those who love us just because they have confined us in some manner, nor should we reject the kindness shown by someone who hates us, based solely on principle. In one memorable scene, Cincinnatus is seen dancing with his jailer to a waltz. Despite despising the idea of dancing with his would-be executioner, he still feels a sense of sadness when the dance concludes and he is returned to his cell.

After all, we are human, and the comforts and loves we feel are real, even when they originate from unlikely or unappealing sources. We must come to terms with this and learn to appreciate and enjoy them for what they truly are. I felt it was a remarkable book, even though I'm not particularly inclined towards surrealism.