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The Real Life of Sebastian Knight Study Guide

by Vladimir Nabokov

The Real Life of Sebastian Knight study guide contains a biography of Vladimir Nabokov, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

The book begins with V. oscillating, as he will throughout the novel, between reminiscences of Sebastian Knight the man and analyses of Sebastian's works. He introduces right away some biographical facts -- his relationship to Sebastian (they are half-brothers with the same father), the death of Sebastian's parents (his father is killed in a duel, his mother dies after abandoning the family of a heart disease) -- and some literary criticism -- a scathing dismissal of a prior biography of Sebastian written by one Mr. Goodman, Sebastian's former secretary.

V. apparently found the book difficult to begin; he tries several approaches, interviewing Sebastian's former governess, his Cambridge friends, and delving into his own memory. Each…

Read the full The Real Life of Sebastian Knight Summary

• The Real Life of Sebastian Knight Summary
• About The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 1-3
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 4-6
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 7-9
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 10-12
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 13-15
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 16-18
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 19-20
• Nabokov: Writing Art
• Related Links on The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Real Life of Sebastian Knight: Major Themes
• The Real Life of Sebastian Knight: Essays
• The Real Life of Sebastian Knight: Questions
• The Real Life of Sebastian Knight: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Vladimir Nabokov: Biography