Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0003804, Wed, 24 Mar 1999 09:20:18 -0800

Subject
Re: Quote Query ID: Painterly novels/novelistic painting... (fwd)
Date
Body
In his Playboy interview in January, 1964, he spoke of his tendency to
conceive entire plots for novels before actually writing anything, then
said "Since this entire structure, dimly illumined in one's mind, ca be
compared to a painting, and since you do not have to work gradually from
left to right for its proper perception, I may direct my flashlight at any
part or particle of the picture when setting it down in writing." The
entire interview is reprinted in Strong Opinions, the quote appearing on
page 32 of the Vintage edition.

Sean Denis Boyland