Camera Oscura

Nabokov, Vladimiro. Camera Oscura. Milano: Muggiani, 1947. First Italian edition. Octavo. 234 (2)pp. Original orange quarter cloth over orange paper-covered boards with orange lettering on gilt square of cover, gilt lettering on spine. Translated into Italian by Alessandra Iljina. Originally written in Russian and serialized in the literary journal Sovremennye Zapiski in 1932. Nabokov disliked the first English translation by Winifred Roy, published by Jonathan Long in 1936, eventually translated it into English himself. It was published at Bobbs-Merrill with the title “Laughter in the Dark.” The novel deals with the affection of Albinus, a middle-aged, married man, for a young woman. The relation results in the dissolution of his marriage and, eventually, has a tragic ending. In 1969 , Laughter in the Dark was adapted for film. Text in Italian. Binding with light wear along edges, rubbed and light soiling. Spine faded. Some foxing to endpapers and half-title. Block moderately age-toned with sporadic light foxing. Binding in overall good-, interior in good condition. g- to g. Hardcover. (39011) $95