Offers a comprehensive account of the evolutionary origins of art and storytelling. This title explains why we tell stories, how our minds are shaped to understand them, and what difference an evolutionary understanding of human nature makes to stories we love.
Brian Boyd Book order (chronological)
Brian Boyd is a distinguished scholar of the life and works of Vladimir Nabokov and the intersection of literature and evolution. His seminal works, which delve into Nabokov's Russian and American periods, have garnered significant acclaim and translation. Boyd's research explores how evolutionary and cognitive processes shape narrative and human imagination, offering profound insights into the mechanics of storytelling. This approach makes his literary criticism a compelling read for those interested in the deeper connections between science and art.
Many think Pale Fire Vladimir Nabokov's greatest novel. At its heart beats the 999-line poem, "Pale Fire," penned by the distinguished American poet John Shade. This first-ever facsimile edition of the poem shows it to be not just a fictional device but a masterpiece of American poetry, albeit by an invented persona -- "the greatest of invented poets," according to Nabokov's own accurate evaluation. This attractive box contains two booklets, the poem "Pale Fire" in a handsome pocket edition and the book of essays by renowned Nabokov authority Brian Boyd and poet R.S. Gwynn, as well as facsimiles of the index cards that John Shade (like his maker, Nabokov) used for composing his poem, printed exactly as Vladimir Nabokov described them. Artist Jean Holabird, who conceived the project, illustrates key details of the poem's pattern and pathos. 40 Pages in Book 1 "Pale Fire," 48 Pages in Book 2 "Pale Fire" Reflections, 80 Index Cards 2 Paperback Books in a deluxe box
Vladimir Nabokov
- 783 pages
- 28 hours of reading
Chronicles the novelist's years in America, where he struggled to support his family until he published "Lolita"--the work that allowed him to enjoy traveling and teaching in the United States