Vladimir Nabokov

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Vladimir Nabokov's literary achievements place him among the most influential writers of the twentieth century. Lolita ranks fourth on Modern Library's list of the best novels of the century, and Speak, Memory ranks eighth on its nonfiction list. Both Lolita and Pale Fire were included in TIME Magazine's All-TIME 100 Novels. He was the second recipient of the National Medal for Literature, a testament to his impact on American letters. In science, his contributions to lepidoptery earned him the honor of having a butterfly genus, Nabokovia, named after him. His works continue to be studied, adapted, and debated, sustaining a vibrant scholarly community.

AwardsNabokov was a seven-time finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction but never won. He received the National Medal for Literature in 1973, a major U.S. literary honor. He was awarded Guggenheim Fellowships in 1943 and 1953, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award of Merit in 1953, and the Brandeis University Creative Arts Award in 1963. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1961 and received honorary doctorates from Harvard University (1959) and Cambridge University (1962).

Honours & Distinctions

New York State Writers Hall of Fame

New York State Writers Hall of Fame·2013

Posthumous induction.

Honorary Doctorate

Harvard University·1959

Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Honorary Doctorate

Cambridge University·1962

Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Elected Member

American Academy of Arts and Letters·1961

Elected to membership.

Rankings & Lists

Modern Library's 100 Best Novels (20th Century)

Modern Library·1999

Modern Library's 100 Best Nonfiction

Modern Library·1999

#13

Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century

Le Monde·1999

Magazine Covers

TIME

1957-05-13

The Lolita Case

TIME

1969-06-06

Nabokov's Ada

Records & Feats

Only author to have a novel banned in France and the U.S. before becoming a bestseller

Historic First·1958

Lolita was banned in France in 1956 and in the U.S. in some jurisdictions before its American publication became a massive commercial success.

First author to have a butterfly genus named after him while still alive

Career Milestone·1960

The butterfly genus Nabokovia was named in his honor, recognizing his contributions to lepidoptery.