The Language of Smell in Vladimir Nabokov’s Mystical Discourse of Prose from His French Period

This article focuses on the mystical connotations of olfactory images in V. Nabokov’s prose from his French period (1937–1940). The authors analyse connection between mystical, philosophical, and aesthetic conceptions. They demonstrate that experience is not conveyed by writer directly but through narration structure forms code literature philosophy (as N. Gogol, P. Ouspensky, A. Bergson, etc.). research refers to studies prove metafictional nature mysticism its with perceptual imagery. As a result, distinguish ambivalent meaning images. Smell an element observer’s sensorial hallucination way which otherworld impacts characters’ perception. On other hand, smell are used assess ability language convey only familiar smells, also supersensory experiences. In prose, main characteristics temporal spatial distance source subject perception, correlation viewpoint, peculiarities nomination. More particularly, magical create plot for solipsistic characters associated perception grotesque smell. conclude attribute fictional world itself. lie transgressive irrational forms: fact difficult verbalise due transcend boundaries worlds, imaginary reality, about it.