Pale Fire is set in the world of academia (Wordsmith College, New Wye, Appalachia) and on one level is a satire of that environment. In form, too (a poem by a fictitious author with introduction, commentary and index by a fictitious editor), it parodies the excesses of literary scholarship. Ostensibly, there are three major players (with a highly entertaining series of minor characters): John Shade, author of the poem "Pale Fire"; Charles Kinbote, Shade's neighbor and the author of the commentary, introduction, and index to the poem; and Jack Grey, an escaped madman who.....
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