Lolita. - [LOLITA - A SCANDALOUS CLASSIC] by NABOKOV, VLADIMIR - 1955

1955. Paris, The Olympia Press, (1955). Bound with the original green wrappers in two elegant, uniform, fully contemporary Danish Half morocco-bindings with gilt author and title to spine (Harry Larsen). Elegant burgundy-red paper over boards. Minor traces of use to extremities. Internally very fine, fresh, and clean. First edition, first issue (with "Francs : 900" to back wrappers) of this main work of 20th century literature, which, with its innovative style and highly controversial subject caused a number of scandals after its appearance. It had been turned down by six publishing houses, anticipating how it would be received by the public, but in 1955 Nabokov finally signed a contract with Olympia Press in Paris. By the Sunday Express editor it was called "the filthiest book I have ever read" and "sheer unrestrained pornography"; the Home Office in Great Britain instructed British Customs to seize all copies entering the country, and in 1956 the book was banned in France. The various translations of the work into other languages caused a number of other scandals, but in spite of American officials being anxious about the appearance of the first American edition, this was issued without problems (in 1958) and became an instant bestseller. In fact, it sold more than 100.000 copies within the first three weeks (as the first book after "Gone With the Wind").Today the book has classic status and is considered one of the finest novels of the 20th century.