“He could swear he did not look back, could not—by any optical chance, or in any prism—have seen her physically as he walked away; and yet, with dreadful distinction, he retained forever a composite picture of her standing where he left her. The picture—which penetrated him, through an eye in the back of his head, through his vitreous spinal canal, and could never be lived down, never—consisted of a selection and blend of such random images and expressions of hers that had affected him with a pang of intolerable remorse at various moments in the past.”

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About Vladimir Nabokov

Russian novelist and literary critic of the 20th century, Nabokov is best known for his intricate, linguistically precise fiction, including *Lolita* and *Pale Fire*. His work blends psychological depth with playful, often ironic storytelling, earning him a lasting place in modern literature.

More from Vladimir Nabokov (161 quotes) →
"He could swear he did not look back, could not—by any optical chance,…" — Vladimir Nabokov | Daily Quotes