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The fourth in The Modern Library8217;s list of the 100 greatest novels of the last century:

Lolita
By Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov8217;s Lolita was first issued in 1955 by an unorthodox Paris press after being rejected by a string of American publishers. The novel is about an affair between a middle-aged sexual pervert and a twelve-year-old girl. In a mock sententious foreword Humbert introduces himself as having a prediliction towards 8216;8216;the perilous magic8217;8217; of subteen sirens. His darling Dolores, turns out to be utterly depraved and plays the role of seducer. Their weird affair is climaxed by Lolita8217;s escape with a playwright and Humbert8217;s eventual revenge on his rival.