Mary Nabokova

Mary (Russian: Mashen’ka or Masen'ka) is Vladimir Nabokov's debut novel. The novel was first published in 1926 under the penname V. Sirin by Russian-language publisher Slovo. Mary is the story of Lev Glebovich Glebovich's journey as an Russian emigrant and ex-White Guard Officer who is forced to flee Russia by the Russian Revolution. Ganin is now living in Berlin with Klara an 18-year-old Russian girl, as well as his Landlady Lydia Nikolaevna Dorn. He also encounters Aleksey Ivanovich Alfyorov in an old, dark elevator at the beginning of the novel. Ganin learns from Alfyorov that Mary, his first love, is now his wife. He also takes a photo. Once Ganin is aware of this, he ends his relationship with his partner, Lyudmila, and begins to become consumed by the memories of his experiences in Russia with Mary and her family, which Ganin notes were "perhaps the most joyful times in his entire life". Enticed by the image of Mary and unwilling to let Alfyorov take her away, Ganin contrives to reunite with Mary whom he believes is still in love with him.