{"product_id":"laughter-in-the-dark-9780811216746","title":"Laughter in the Dark","description":"\u003cem\u003e\"Once upon a time there lived in Berlin, Germany, a man called Albinus. He was rich, respectable, happy; one day he abandoned his wife for the sake of a youthful mistress; he loved; was not loved; and his life ended in disaster.\"\u003c\/em\u003e Thus begins Vladimir Nabokov's \u003cem\u003eLaughter in the Dark\u003c\/em\u003e; this, the author tells us, is the whole story--except that he starts from here, with his characteristic dazzling skill and irony, and brilliantly turns a fable into a chilling, original novel of folly and destruction. Amidst a Weimar-era milieu of silent film stars, artists, and aspirants, Nabokov creates a merciless masterpiece as Albinus, an aging critic, falls prey to his own desires, to his teenage mistress, and to Axel Rex, the scheming rival for her affections who finds his greatest joy in the downfall of others.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Published first in Russian as \u003cem\u003eKamera Obskura\u003c\/em\u003e in 1932, this book appeared in Nabokov's own English translation six years later. This New Directions edition, based on the text as Nabokov revised it in 1960, features a new introduction by Booker Prize-winner John Banville.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNabokov, Vladimir:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eVladimir Nabokov\u003c\/strong\u003e (1899-1977), one of the 20th century's greatest writers in both Russian and English, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and spent his adult life in Germany, France, the United States, and Switzerland. In addition to his literary work, he was a passionate lepidopterist and chess player. His books include \u003ci\u003eLolita, Pale Fire, The Real Light of Sebastian Knight, Laughter in the Dark\u003c\/i\u003e, and many more.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBanville, John:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Banville\u003c\/strong\u003e was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He is the author of fourteen novels including \u003cem\u003eThe Book of Evidence\u003c\/em\u003e, which was shortlisted for the 1989 Booker Prize. He lives in Dublin.","brand":"New Directions Publishing Corporation","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50704884695314,"sku":"9780811216746","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f3129611-96c2-42e6-a252-cccf8916907b.jpg?v=1734481509","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/laughter-in-the-dark-9780811216746","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}