Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically. -- John Updike The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a perversely magical literary detective story -- subtle, intricate, leading to a tantalizing climax -- about the mysterious life of a famous writer. Many people knew things about Sebastian Knight as a distinguished novelist, but probably fewer Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically. -- John Updike The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a perversely magical literary detective story -- subtle, intricate, leading to a tantalizing climax -- about the mysterious life of a famous writer. Many people knew things about Sebastian Knight as a distinguished novelist, but probably fewer than a dozen knew of the two love affairs that so profoundly influenced his career, the second one in such a disastrous way. After Knights death, his half brother sets out to penetrate the enigma of his life, starting with a few scanty clues in the novelists private papers. His search proves to be a story as intriguing as any of his subjects own novels, as baffling, and, in the end, as uniquely rewarding.