Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0018225, Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:02:17 +0000

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BIRTHDAY: that nut with the net
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A personal favorite...

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A Dirt Road in a Canyon

Humbert pulls up at the bloomy and lush wayside.

HUMBERT I should not have attempted to take a short cut. We’re lost.

LOLITA Ask that nut with the net over there.

The Butterfly Hunter. His name is Vladimir Nabokov. A fritillary settles with outspread wings on a tall flower. Nabokov snaps it up with a sweep of his net. Humbert walks toward him. With a nip of finger and thumb through a fold of the marquisette Nabokov dispatches his capture and works the dead insect out of the netbag onto the palm of his hand.

HUMBERT Is that a rare specimen?

NABOKOV A specimen cannot be common or rare, it can only be poor or perfect.

HUMBERT Could you direct me—

NABOKOV You meant “rare species.” This is a good specimen of a rather scarce subspecies.

HUMBERT I see. Could you please tell me if this roads leads to Dympleton?

NABOKOV I haven’t the vaguest idea. I saw some loggers (pointing) up there. They might know.


Lolita: A Screenplay, New York: Vintage, 1997, 127-128.

************************

Marie C. Bouchet, PhD.
University of Toulouse, France



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