Nabokov's Butterflies
Encyclopedia
Nabokov’s Butterflies is a book edited and annotated by Brian Boyd
and Robert Michael Pyle
that examines and presents Vladimir Nabokov
’s passion for butterflies
in his literary presentation.
The book contains a chapter by Boyd discussing the literary treatment of butterflies in VN’s work labeled Nabokov, Literature, Lepidoptera, a chapter by Pyle to assess VN’s standing as a lepidopterist (Between Cloud and Climb) and writings of VN concerning butterflies. The latter section includes previously unpublished writings by VN, namely Father’s Butterflies: Second Addendum to "The Gift" (translated by Dmitri Nabokov
) and The Butterflies of Europe, notes concerning an unfinished book about the lepidoptera of Europe. The book also contains an addendum compiled by Pyle that lists butterflies described by VN and butterflies named after him.
Brian Boyd
Brian Boyd is known primarily as an expert on the life and works of author Vladimir Nabokov and on literature and evolution...
and Robert Michael Pyle
Robert Michael Pyle
Robert Michael Pyle is a lepidopterist and author who has published twelve books and hundreds of papers, essays, stories and poems. He has a Ph.D. from the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. He founded the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in 1974...
that examines and presents Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
’s passion for butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in his literary presentation.
The book contains a chapter by Boyd discussing the literary treatment of butterflies in VN’s work labeled Nabokov, Literature, Lepidoptera, a chapter by Pyle to assess VN’s standing as a lepidopterist (Between Cloud and Climb) and writings of VN concerning butterflies. The latter section includes previously unpublished writings by VN, namely Father’s Butterflies: Second Addendum to "The Gift" (translated by Dmitri Nabokov
Dmitri Nabokov
Dmitri Vladimirovich Nabokov is an American opera singer and translator. He is the only child of writer Vladimir Nabokov and his wife Vera Nabokov, and is currently executor of his father's literary estate.-Background:...
) and The Butterflies of Europe, notes concerning an unfinished book about the lepidoptera of Europe. The book also contains an addendum compiled by Pyle that lists butterflies described by VN and butterflies named after him.