Mary Nabokova

 Mary (Russian: Mashen'ka, the Russian word for "masen'ka") is the debut novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first published under the pen name V. Sirin in 1926 by Russian-language publisher "Slovo".Mary is the story of Lev Glebovich Ganin, a Russian exile and former White Guard Officer displaced by the Russian Revolution. Ganin is now living in Berlin with Klara, a young Russian girl, as well as his girlfriend Lydia Nikolaevna Dorn. He also is introduced to Aleksey Ivanovich Alfyorov in an old, dark elevator in the beginning of the story. Ganin discovers from Alfyorov that Mary, his first love has become his wife. He also takes photos. Ganin is shocked to learn that this is the case and breaks off his relationship with Lyudmila. He is completely absorbed in the memories of his time spent with Mary in Russia and what Ganin says were the "happiest moments" of his life. Enticed by the dream of Mary and unable to let Alfyorov have her, Ganin contrives to reunite with Mary whom he believes is still loving him.