Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0013916, Sun, 5 Nov 2006 15:47:33 -0200

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Re: R: [NABOKV-L] "Pale Fire" JM from GS to CHW
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CHW wrote "Einstein, as I understand it, was initially boxed out of academe largely because he was infinitely more gifted than his teachers...Play it safe, is the rule by thumb" and GS answered: " That is outside of Nabokov-L but, Charles, here is fascinating modern sample of what you describe. In short it is about Jewish mathematic genius from Russia, Grisha Perelman, who chose not to play it safe after becoming "conspicuous" person..."

Let's link academic duels and VN ( there are various references to duels in "Ada": Van's, Demon against Baron d' Onski, Pushkin's own...). I would like to bring up now the French mathematical genius, Evariste Galois, who defied his teachers instead of hiding his genius and who died from wounds suffered in a duel.
The idea of burning at the stake because of one's superior discoveries and ideas (Giordano Bruno), trying to force faith, theory and perception meet ( Johannes Kepler) and Galileo's insistent provocations against the Roman Church versus Inquisition, seem to have been themes that instigated VN and his own shining intelligence.
Jansy

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