Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0003131, Sat, 23 May 1998 08:33:38 -0700

Subject
Re: Query: G.H. Orwell (fwd)
Date
Body
> >From Robert Cook, University of Iceland
>
> Query: Why does VN refer to George Orwell as "G. H. Orwell" in the Foreword
> to Invitation to a Beheading? As far as I can see from checking books and
> bibliographies, Orwell always went by the name "George Orwell," with no
> middle initial.


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From: Anatoly Vorobey <mellon@pobox.com>

Well, 'George Orwell' couldn't have a middle name, being a pseudonym.
One version which I recall reading is that it's a hidden reference
to either G.H.Lawrence or H.G.Wells, whose names are usually written
with initials. I don't think that's particularly convincing, unless
there's more evidence.

--
Anatoly Vorobey,
mellon@pobox.com http://pobox.com/~mellon/
"Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly" - G.K.Chesterton