Bend Sinister: Vladimir Nabokov

The state has been recently taken over and is being run by the tyrannical and philistine `Average Man` party. Under the slogans of equality and happiness for all, it has done away with individualism and freedom of thought. Only John Krug, a brilliant philosopher, stands up to the regime. His antagonist, the leader of the new party, is his old school enemy, Paduk - known as the `Toad`. Grieving over his wife`s recent death, Krug is at first dismissive of Paduk`s activities and sees no threat in them. But the sinister machine which Paduk has set in motion may prove stronger than the individual, stronger even than the grotesque `Toad` himself.