Mary

Mary (Russian Mashen'ka, also known as Masen'ka) is Vladimir Nabokov's debut novel. It was first published in 1926 under the pen name V. Sirin by Russian-language publisher Slovo. Mary is the tale of Lev Glebovich's life as an Russian ex-White Guard Officer who is forced out of Russia due to the Russian Revolution. Ganin now lives in Berlin with Klara an 18-year-old Russian girl and his Landlady Lydia Nikolaevna Dorn. He also meets Aleksey Ivanovich Alfyorov in an elevator that is dark and deteriorating at the beginning of the novel. Ganin learns from Alfyorov that Mary the first woman he fell in love with, is now his wife. He also snaps a photo. Ganin is shocked to learn this and ends his relationship Lyudmila. He becomes engrossed in his memories of his time with Mary in Russia and what Ganin says were the "happiest moments" of his life. Enticed by the image of Mary and in a state of denial that he can let Alfyorov take her away, Ganin contrives to reunite with Mary whom he believes is still in love with him.