Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0015975, Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:12:37 -0500

Subject
Re: A Nursery Tale Frau Monde/Gospozha Ott
Date
Body
Re Jansy's query on "A Nursery Tale" female devil:

a detailed explanation is given by Irena & Omri Ronen in "Nabokov's Devils" -- I have a Russian version in Zvezda 2006, 4 online:
http://magazines.russ.ru/zvezda/2006/4/ro10.html

They note that:

(a) "Monde" [Fr. World] = an anagram of "demon";

(b) there also is a Frau Welt from old German allegories, a female embodiment of world's temptations and the Devil himself;

(c) in the Russian version, Frau Monde is Gozpozha Ott; Ott = Gott - G

I would also add that obviously the Devil is ""the prince of this world".

Victor Fet

From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of jansymello
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:48 AM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Vladimir as a name

Dear Victor,

I agree with you qua Mary's query: one shouldn't "mention those two V.V.'s in the same message lightly on this esteemed Forum"

My question concerning "Vladimir" was, at first glance, only a tease ( Sigmund and Vladimir), but actually I had been wondering about a second "nabor" ( recruiting?) agent, as found in "A Nursery Tale", when a feminine version of the devil intervenes and spoils Erwin's harem ( two phantastic recruiters, indeed!). Whad could have been VN's purpose when he chose to call this demonic character, " Frau Monde"?
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