Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0016534, Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:09:58 -0300

Subject
Re: more anagrams
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Date
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Alexey: Unfortunately, this article is too long to be translated into English. All I can do is to write short commentaries in English about certain aspects discussed in my piece. I'm sorry to hear that they are insufficient. Well, apparently only a multi-lingual reader, with a knowledge of Russian history and literature, can enjoy Ada to the full.

JM: I cannot agree with you about "only a multi-lingual reader[...]can enjoy ADA to the full".
In the first place because, as I see it, to enjoy a novel to the full is still rather "relative" (it doesn't fit into any "absolute" category).
Secondly, because every reader sets himself different aims and joys.
I'm sure there are third, fourth or even limitless items which I'm unable to ennumerate.
Although we may agree, as a first step, that "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" and that the richer a reader's vision, more fully is the object he experiences liable to produce nuanced responses and joyful appreciation or recognition, even so... there is no universal standard to measure this "fullness".
Even a poor monolingual reader that has to remain tied to a translation of VN can reach various high levels of art as "directly" as possible. At least, I think this is one of VN's very important facets: to write from a position that often transcends certain limitations of plot, game and even, words.

A.S: BTW, here are a couple of new thoughts about "Gory Mary" that seem relevant[...]
JM: From an American-English position ( which actually is not mine) I remember having brought up in a past posting at the List various aspects of children's rhymes on "Gory Mary" . The Mother-Goosepimply songs are gaily sung, as if innocent of the "gory" implications of which I feel VN was also aware. If possible I'll retrieve these messages from the archives.

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