The darkly comic Transparent Things one of Nabokov s final books traces the bleak life of Hugh Person through murder madness prison and trips to Switzerland. One of these was the last journey his father ever took; on another having been sent to ingratiate himself with a distinguished novelist he met his future wife. As casual as unpredictable as eccentric and as daunting as Mr. Nabokov s genius. -Mavis Gallant The New York Times Book Review Nabokov s brilliant short novel sinks into the transparent things of the world that surround this one person to the silent histories they carry. Remarkable even in Nabokov s work for its depth and lyricism Transparent Things is a small experimental marvel of memories and dreams both sentimental and malign. The final effect is both chill and comic the transparencies both beautiful and terrifying. --The Times (London)