Silent Love

The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is one of Vladimir Nabokovs most autobiographical novels and it has often been observed that Sebastians passionate affair with the femme fatale Nina Rechnoy is a dramatized extension of Nabokovs infatuation with Irina Guadanini. In this book it is shown that the novel also conceals another, secluded, love affair Sebastian had with a man, which reflects the main episode in the life of Nabokovs brother Sergey. By pursuing many biographical and literary references and allusions, and by disregarding the deceptive guiding by the narrator (Sebastians half-brother), this moving story about Sebastians silent love becomes brightly visible.