Laughter in the Dark

The original title of Laughter in the Dark was Камера Обскура, Kamera Obskura. Written by Vladimir Nabokov, it was released in 1932, translated into English as Camera Obscura in 1936, and retitled with the more well known Laughter in the Dark in 1938. With Laughter in the Dark, Nabokov tentatively tests the waters of the themes he so fully surrenders to in Lolita - as the book deals with the affections of a middle-aged man for a very young woman, which result in a mutually parasitic relationship. In 1955, Nabokov took this theme much further with Lolita, and it is interesting to note it was published in France under a psuedonym - knowing the theme was contraversial and inflammitory - but obviously not one he could escape exploring.