Historic day in loosening the reigns of censorship

The Writer's Almanac...

Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita was first published in the United States on this date in 1958. First released in France in 1955 by a publisher that specialized in erotica, the story of middle-aged Humbert Humbert and his obsession with his landlady's 12-year-old daughter was met with mixed reviews. Graham Greene named it one of the best books of 1955; E.M. Forster, Evelyn Waugh, and Edmund Wilson disagreed. A contemporary New York Times review pleaded with readers to ignore the word-of-mouth and keep an open mind: "He is not writing for the ardent and simple-minded civil-libertarian any more than he is writing for the private libertine; he is writing for readers, and those who can read him simply will be well rewarded."

Lolita [Wikipedia]

Vladimir Nabokov discusses Lolita...

Part 1

Part 2

A few more selected book covers...

There were two film versions...Stanley Kubrick's being the best.

Trailer