Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0003052, Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:09:48 -0700

Subject
More VN on NPR (fwd)
Date
Body
from ValSyl@aol.com
Sylvia Weiser Wendel

Garrison Keillor, who has a five-minute syndicated bit called "The Writer's
Almanac" on my local classical station, today mentioned the birthday of VN.
He actually pronounced both first and last names properly. In a brief
overview of VN's career, Keillor noted (I am quoting from memory, so please
excuse inexactitude): "He suffered for many years from insomnia, and when he
could not sleep, would pull 3x5 cards out from underneath his pillow ... and
write all night, in his head." Made it sound as if the man never actually
touched pencil to paper; books were created by magic, I guess. He did mention
that LO was written on summer lepidoptery trips, "in the car, with his wife."
Didn't mention that Mrs. N. drove.

I find Keillor insufferable at length, but in these daily five-minute spasms
he keeps the cutesy stuff to a minimum. I'm happy to hear NaBOAKoff called to
public attention under any circumstances.

Any truth to the cards-under-pillow tale? Thanks.

Sylvia