Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0004451, Wed, 6 Oct 1999 10:00:39 -0700

Subject
Re: a second "nostalgia" quote (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. Karoline Leach is the author of a recent "revisionist"
biography of Lewis Carroll, a writer who was to have many links with VN
and, perhaps, his protagonist Humbert. Carroll has been referred to as
"the first Humbert."
The "second nostalgia quote she mentions is Vn's reply to the
question "Do you find N. delbilitating or enriching?" His reply "Neither,
it is just one of a thousand tender emotions" (SO 146). Cited by Brian
Walter in juxtaposition to the introduction's to MARY's quote
that N. is an insane companion.
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From: Kandmleach@aol.com

I believe VN himself said something to the effect that he viewed all social
interaction as being about the assumption of a reasonably interesting and
plausible persona for the entertainment of his companions.
It seems in keeping with his delight in puzzles, word games and his tendency
to view his fellow creatures rather as a scientist views a specimen on a
slide, that he should assume opinions, attitudes and beliefs more for the
interest in seeing how they will be received than for any investment he
actually has in them.
Would you say this was so?

I find it an interesting question, because the very same tendency to play
with the less nimble minds around him, was a marked characteristic of the
'first Humbert Humbert'.

Karoline