Commentary, Line 171: books and people through Line 230: a domestic ghost Summary

Kinbote relates some witty comments made by Shade that he has written in his notebook. Shade values neither praise nor criticism from reviewers and comments that Russian intellectuals have no sense of humor. He loves the visceral aspects of good writing and argues that Marxism is a more evil idea than Freudianism. He cannot forgive his students reading stupidly, evoking generic symbolism, or praising writing as "simple" or "sincere."

On July 5, Shade has a get-together at his house. Kinbote sees him writing at three in the morning and later notes that Shade and his wife are making love for the four thousandth time. Across the world, Gradus is boarding a plane to Copenhagen.

The day of July 5, Kinbote drives a young man to a party...