Nabokov's Shakespeare is a comprehensive study of an important and interesting literary relationship. It explores the many and deep ways in which the works of Shakespeare, the greatest writer of the English language, penetrate the novels of Vladimir Nabokov, one of the finest English prose stylists of the twentieth century. As a Russian youth, Nabokov read all of Shakespeare, in English. He claimed a shared birthday with the Bard, and some of his most highly regarded novels (Lolita, Pale Fire and Ada) are infused with Shakespeare and Shakespeareanisms. Nabokov uses Shakespeare and Shakespeare's works in a surprisingly wide variety of ways, from the most casual references to deep thematic links.Schuman provides a taxonomy of Nabokov's Shakespeareanisms; a quantitative analysis of Shakespeare in Nabokov; an examination of Nabokov's Russian works, his early English novels, the non-novelistic writings (poetry, criticism, stories), Nabokov's major works, and his final novels; and a discussion of the nature of literary relationships and influence. With a Foreword by Brian Boyd.

Foreword by Brian BoydIntroduction - Shakespeare, Nabokov, and MeI."The Sun's a Thief:" Nabokov's ShakespeareIntroductionNabokov, English and English LiteratureThemeA Taxonomy of Nabokov's ShakespeareanismsPreviewII.The Russian Works The Tragedy of Mr. Morn"Shakespeare"TranslationsEarly Prose The Wood Sprite Glory, The Gift, Invitation to a Beheading Laughter in the Dark DespairThe English NovelsIII."Which is Sebastian?": What's in a (Shakespearean and Nabokovian) Name?IV.No Left Turn, or Something Rotten the State: Bend Sinister and HamletV.Hurricane Lolita: The Nabokovian TempestVI.Tempest Point on the Bohemian Sea: PNINVII.The Lunatic, the Lover and the Poet: Pale Fire and "Timon of Athens"VIII."O What a Noble Mind:": Ada and HamletIX.The Last NovelsTransparent ThingsLook at the Harlequins!X.A Miscellany of Other English WorksThat in Aleppo OnceEugene OneginSpeak, MemoryReviews and NotesXI.Concluding ThoughtsAppendix 1 - A Quantitative ApproachWorks ConsultedNotesIndex