When he is sixteen, Nabokov meets a young girl named Tamara (this is a pseudonym he gives her.) Tamara is a year younger than Nabokov. Nabokov crosses paths with her and several of her girlfriends as they trespass in the parks on his family's estate. Tamara's parents rent a modest summer cottage called a dachka. She is short and slightly plump with thick, braided hair and dark eyes. They spend the summer of 1915, walking through the parks, Nabokov taking the young girl to all the secret spots he has found in pursuit of butterflies. His parents trust his intentions, and when the tutor that is assigned to him spies on the young couple, Nabokov's mother rebukes the man. At night, Nabokov hangs a lantern on his bicycle and rides to a portico.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 658 words. This
study guide contains 23,772 words (approx. 79 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Speak, Memory: An Autobiography Revisited Access Pass.
