Research On The Biography Image Of Nabokov

In the biographies of Nabokov, the best known are two books. One is his autobiography Speak, Memory!.The other one is Nabokov Biography written by Boyd. The former embodies Nabokov’s self-image construction; the letter reflects Boyd’s construction about Nabokov’s image. The two works-outline Nabokov’s image together, have a great impact on readers, describe the basic profiles of Nabokov for all levels of readers, as well as the researchers. Therefore, this paper focus on the two works above. Firstly, to analyze characteristics of Nabokov’s image in the two works respectively.Secondly, to explore the subjective intent of two authors when they shaped the images.Thirdly, to clarify the similarities between them. Finally, to examine the effect which the image of Nabokov had on readers. Specifically, this paper can be divided into three parts.The first part, bases on Speak, Memory!, outlines the self-image that Nabokov constructed himself. This image contains Nabokov’s ideal personality and expectance on the other biographers, who can draw the image according to Nabokov’s boundaries.The second part, bases on Nabokov Biography, analyzes the relationship between Boyd’s biography and Nabokov’s autobiography. By comparing the images, principles of writing, narrative strategies, selection methods, value judgments of the two biographies, we know that Boyd catered to Nabokov’s autobiography’s image initiatively, and constructed Nabokov’s image as a literary master.The third part, bases on the images which constructed by the two writers, both of them point to Nabokov’s literary identity, and interpret Nabokov’s life history as an artist, then complete an ideal portrait. This portrait carries on Nabokov’s ideal personality, Boyd’s worship, and the expectation of the society.So it exerts huge influence on Experts and public people for a long time.