Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0006387, Mon, 18 Feb 2002 09:38:38 -0800

Subject
More on Montreux Palace barman
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. Thanks to Paul Montgomery for this update on the Montreux Palace
barman, a gentleman of truly catholic tastes. (See bootom.

Jane Morrison wrote:

>
>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (27 lines) ------------------
> Message text written by Vladimir Nabokov Forum
> >>
> > Is there a chance we might all get the barman story in
> > English?
>
> ---------------------
> The story by the barman Antonio Trigero (?) (described as a "hot
> spaniard" talking to an "absolutely Russian soul") is a rather trite
> account of Nabokov drinking exclusively "coffee, mineral water, and tea"
> at the bar, but never wine or vodka. The interviewer regards this fact
> as a "loyalty to the writer from Russia", when Antonio "considerately"
> adds "at least not at the bar". Antonio also recollects "a pleasant low
> voice" and that "he was in general a witty and charming person".
>
> Sergej
> <
>
> The Montreux Palace had a wonderful Nabokov exhibition during the 1999
> centenary. I went to the elegant bar afterward and noticed that the
> grey-haired barman, possibly the same one, had a signed poster of Michael
> Jackson and a photograph of VN on the wall of his little pantry. I asked
> him about his selection and he said those were the two of his many famous
> clients he admired the most.
>
> Cheers.
> Paul Montgomery
> Lausanne, Switzerland