Call for contributions (edited collection):

Nabokov's Woman: Present in Her Absence

Edited by Elena Sommers (Rochester Institute of Technology)

If we had to arrange an interview with one of Nabokov's heroines, the job would be challenging as she is rarely in one place for very long. When she is, she often falls victim to sudden circumstances and is usually assigned a particularly cruel and painful death. Always frustratingly elusive, desired by all, seemingly available, yet completely unattainable, Nabokov’s woman is presented again and again through the nostalgic prism of her lyrical absence. Hoping to draw from both well-known scholars in the field and new talent, this collection of articles aims to explore the subject of the female voice in Nabokov. The author’s representation of female characters is one of the areas of Nabokov studies that has yet to receive its full share of scholarly attention. The editor of the proposed collection hopes to bring together critical response to Nabokov’s art that creates a blend of non-feminist and feminist points of view.

Please send a 300 word abstract and a brief bio to elena.sommers@rit.edu by April 30th, 2013.