This critical text examines the ways in which Vladimir Nabokov, one of the twentieth century's great novelists, structured his novels to encapsulate his metaphysical beliefs. The book draws examples from all of Nabokov's novels, revealing a startling consistency in his beliefs over the course of his career, even as the structure of his novels increased in complexity. At the heart of his work is a profound respect for what's missing, for unsolvable riddles, for questions even at the expense of answers. Nabokov's techniques--from wordplay to plotlines--reveal an enduring reverence for permanent mystery.