Born: 10 April 1899 · Died: 2 July 1977 · Age at death: 78
How old was Vladimir Nabokov when he died?
Vladimir Nabokov died aged 78. He was born on 10 April 1899 and died on 2 July 1977.
Russian-American novelist of Lolita and Pale Fire, a master stylist in two languages and a keen butterfly collector
Did you know?He was a respected expert on butterflies and discovered several new species during his travels across North America.
Quick facts
Date of birth10 April 1899
Date of death2 July 1977
Age at death78
NationalityRussian-American
BirthplaceSaint Petersburg, Russia
Occupationnovelist, poet, writer
Editor's Take:
Vladimir Nabokov wrote dazzling novels in both Russian and English. He grew up in a wealthy St Petersburg family and fled after the revolution. He lived in Berlin and Paris before moving to the United States. Lolita, narrated by a charming but monstrous man, caused scandal and made him famous. Pale Fire is a puzzle of a novel built around a poem. He was also a serious scientist who studied butterflies. His prose is playful, precise and full of word games.
Key Milestones
1919: Exile – leaves Russia
1940: United States – emigrates
1948: Cornell – teaches literature
1955: Lolita – published
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (Russian: Влади́мир Влади́мирович Набо́ков; 22 April 1899 – 2 July 1977), also known by the pen name Vladimir Sirin (Владимир Сирин), was a Russian and American novelist, poet, translator, and entomologist.
