Michael Maar, who some years ago discovered a (rather weak) German short story titled Lolita which probably has inspired Nabokov, takes us on a short but sweet promenade through Zembla with interesting aperçus on N's work and life. Themes covered are N's dislike of Thomas Mann, his love of Andersen, Schopenhauer and Proust, aspects of Humbert, Lolita and Pnin as well as N's ambivalence towards nymphs and homosexuals. It is infuriating that Maar refuses to disclose his opinion. He takes the reader on an extensive tour of Nabokovian characters and biographical facts but stops short of presenting a conclusion. Reading the book is like waking up from a dream. Images are still lingering, but its essence escapes. Nevertheless, it is fine that somebody prepares to pick up the torch of the aged German Nabokov guru Dieter E. Zimmer. ( )