Saturdays With Kaye: The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman

The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman

Considering this non-fiction book is about one of the most disturbing subjects I can imagine, I thought it would be difficult to read. However, Weinman’s concentration on linking Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” to the real-life story of Sally Horner had me quickly involved.  

Nabokov was always determined to hide the origins of his works. His attitude was that true art must stand on its own; it owes nothing to pedestrian realities and events. Today, the opposite is true. Writers readily reveal their inspirations, and readers are delighted to find out what’s behind the stories they love and how they relate to actual events.

Nabokov went to great pains to destroy his sources. He even wrote in longhand, had his wife type up his notes, and then burned the original papers. He took notes on index cards when not actively writing and destroyed most of those, too…but some have survived. One, a big clue for Weinman, detailed the story of Sally Horner. Indications show that Nabokov originally wanted his character, Humbert Humbert, to come across an account of Sally’s kidnapping, but instead decided to use her story to flesh out the novel that’d been rattling around in his own brain for many years—“Lolita.”

The first half of this book is devoted to Sally Horner’s truly tragic story. Frank La Salle, a mechanic with a history of being attracted to prepubescent girls, saw Sally shoplift when she was only 11. He eventually made her believe that he was an FBI agent and she would go to prison or reform school if she didn’t go into hiding with him. Abusing her as they moved cross country for 21 months, Sally finally made a phone call after being encouraged to do so by a kind woman in a trailer park where they were staying.

I could go on forever about this book, but it’s better to give my advice: Pick up a copy!

Reviewed by Kaye George, Fat Cat Takes the Cake (written as Janet Cantrell), for Suspense Magazine