the unfinished novel Nabokov's

Vladimir Nabokov wanted it burned on his death, but "The Original of Laura" survived and now, 32 years later, the unfinished novel is
to be published for the first time.

Despite Nabokov's dying wish, publication of the manuscript, which was compiled on index cards, is set for November 17 in New York and London, giving what many hope will be an unexpected glimpse of his genius.

The Russian-born writer's widow Vera had already saved his most famous work, "Lolita," from the flames, and their son Dmitry, 75, followed suit by preserving "Laura."

Yet the family hesitated for 30 years before finally going to literary agent Andrew Wylie. The manuscript — 138 index cards — until now has been locked in a bank vault in Montreux, Switzerland, where Nabokov die d in 1977. Like "Lolita", "The Original of Laura" is in English.

Dmitry Nabokov has also alluded to the potential greatness of the book. In a BBC TV interview in 2008, he said, "My father told me what his most important books were. He alluded to Laura as one of them. One doesn't refer to (a) book one intends to destroy.

The speculation is that the novel contains even more sex than "Lolita," story of an elderly, literary pedophile and a manipulative young girl.