Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0001053, Mon, 25 Mar 1996 12:26:47 -0800

Subject
Re: shamoes in ADA query (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR'S NOTE. Jeff Edmunds and Eric Roman both propose that "shamoes"=
"chameaux", i.e., camels. Roman further notes that the "chameau" is
one-humped vs the two of the "dromadaire." Thanks to the others who
responded to Sergei Ilyin's query. You have not only clarified an
obscurity for the English reader but made a modest contribution to the
Russian translation.
------------------------------------
From: Jeff Edmunds <jhe@psulias.psu.edu>

>EDITOR'S NOTE. Sergei Ilyin <isb@glas.apc.org>, Russian translator of PNIN
>and now ADA is preparing some notes on the latter. Can anyone help with
>the "shamoes" in the following passage from Part One, chptr 24 of ADA.?
>--------------------------------------
>
> "...cummerbunded Dutchman in the hotel hall telling another
>
> that Van's father, who had just passed whistling one of
>
> his three tunes, was famous 'camler' (camel driver -
>
> shamoes having been imported recently? No, 'gambler')."
>

"Shamoes" is a whimsical phonetic rendering of "chameaux," French for "camels."


Jeff Edmunds