Russia’s most famous monument and Nabokov’s most controversial novel are discussed in tonight’s Historama.

Nabokov’s most scandalous novel

On this day in 1958, Vladimir Nabokov’s most famous and controversial novel “Lolita” was published in the US.

“Lolita” has been called a work of genius by some and pornography by others. Yet it became an instant bestseller and one of the best-known works of literature of the 20th century.

The main character and narrator in the book is the middle-aged Humbert, who is obsessed with what he calls “nymphets” – sexually attractive young girls.

Humbert eventually becomes infatuated and sexually involved with his 12-year-old stepdaughter Dolores Haze, whom he affectionately calls Lolita.

Read more on this event in Russian history

“Bronze Horseman” unveiled in St. Petersburg

Today in 1782, St. Petersburg – the then-capital of Russia – welcomed a new monument, the famous "Bronze Horseman."

Catherine the Great commissioned a statue of Peter the Great to French artist Etienne Maurice Falconet.

The name of the monument was coined by none other than great poet Aleksandr Pushkin: it first appears in one of his poems about St. Petersburg.

­Gorbachev ends up under house arrest

Exactly 20 years ago today, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was put under house arrest at his dacha in Crimea.

His arrest was part of the August putsch. Communist hardliners who were unhappy with Gorbachev's reforms flew to his holiday retreat and ordered him to renounce his leadership of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev refused, and the coup eventually failed, with most of the conspirators arrested.