For the Russian poet, see Ivan Pnin.
File:Pnin.jpg
1st edition in book form (publ. Heinemann)

Pnin is Vladimir Nabokov's 13th novel and his fourth written in English; it was published in 1957.

Plot summary [link]

The book's eponymous protagonist, Timofey Pavlovich Pnin, is a Russian-born professor living in the United States. Pnin, a refugee in his 50s from both Communist Russia and what he calls the "Hitler war", is an assistant professor of Russian at fictional Waindell College, possibly modeled on Wellesley College or Cornell University, at both of which Nabokov himself taught[1]. At Waindell, Pnin has settled down to an uncertain, untenured, but semi-respectable academic life, full of various tragicomic mishaps, misfortunes, and difficulties adjusting to American life and language.

Characters in the book include his departmental supervisor, various professors and university staff, his landlord, his ex-wife, and her son. The book's seemingly unreliable narrator identifies himself as one 'Vladimir Vladimirovich N---' and bears similarities to Nabokov himself, such as his interest in lepidoptery and his landed-gentry Russian émigré past.

Pnin is last glimpsed fleeing Waindell College, jobless, for an unknown destination.[2]

Background [link]

The novel draws from Nabokov's experience at American academic institutions, primarily Cornell, and it has been claimed that it is "teeming" with people and physical details from that university.[1][3] The main character is based, in part, on Cornell Professor Marc Szeftel, who may have "somewhat resented the resemblance".[4]

Sections of Pnin were first published, in installments, in The New Yorker in order to generate income while Nabokov was scouring the United States for a publisher willing to publish Lolita.[1] It was soon expanded, revised, and published in book form.

References [link]

  1. ^ a b c Lodge, David (2004). Introduction to Pnin. Everyman's Library. ISBN 1-4000-4198-8. 
  2. ^ Nabokov, Vladimir (2004). Pnin. Everyman's Library. p. 132. ISBN 1-4000-4198-8. 
  3. ^ Field, Andrew. VN, The Life and Art of Vladimir Nabokov. Crown Publishers, Inc., New York (1977), ISBN 0-517-65113-1. 
  4. ^ Lodge, page xi

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PLAYLIST TIME:

7 Days

by: Nina

On my way to see my friends
Who lived a couple blocks away from me (owh)
As I walked through the subway
It must have been about quarter past three
In front of me
Stood a beautiful honey with a beautiful body
She asked me for the time
I said it?d cost her her name
A six digit number & a date with me tomorrow at nine
Did she decline? no
Didn?t she mind? I don?t think so
Was it for real? damn sure
What was the deal? a pretty girl aged 24
So was she keen? she couldn?t wait
Cinnamon queen? let me update
What did she say? she said she?d love to
Rendezvous
She asked me what we were gonna do
Said we?d start with a bottle of moet for two
Chorus
Monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday
I met this girl on monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday
Verse 2
Nine was the time
Cos I?ll be getting mine
And she was looking fine
Smooth talker
She told me
She?d love to unfold me all night long
Ooh I loved the way she kicked it
From the front to back she flipped (back she flipped it, ooh the
Way she
Kicked it)
And I oh oh I yeah
Hope that she?d care
Cos I?m a man who?ll always be there
Ooh yeah
I?m not a man to play around baby
Ooh yeah
Cos a one night stand isn?t really fair
From the first impression girl hmm you don?t seem to be like that
Cos there?s no need to chat for there?ll be plenty for that
From the subway to my home
Endless ringing of my phone
When you feeling all alone
All you gotta do
Is just call me call me
Chorus
Monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday
I met this girl on monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday
Bridge
(break it down, uh break it down)
Since I met this special lady
Ooh yeah
I can?t get her of my mind
She?s one of a kind
And I ain?t about to deny it
It?s a special kind thing
With you-oh.......
Chorus
Monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday
I met this girl on monday
Took her for a drink on tuesday
We were making love by wednesday
And on thursday & friday & saturday we chilled on sunday




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