Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0000925, Tue, 30 Jan 1996 10:04:41 -0800

Subject
Re: VN's worst novel? (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR'S NOTE. Heather Lowe raised the question of Nabokov's "worst
novel" a few days ago. Joe Williams responded with what I took to be
a pseudo-naive response re LOLITA. Some subscriber's took Mr. Williams'
seriously; others did not. Still others had their own candidates for VN's
weakest. In the following sequence of messages I pass on a representative
sample. Judging from VN's own comments, he regarded GLORY and LAUGHTER IN
THE DARK as relatively weak.
------------------------------------------
From: Dean Farwood <farwood@sirius.com>

>From: Joe Williams <jwilliams@mail.mcp.com>
>
> I would nominate the book called "Lolita." Someone should point out to
> this Mr. Nabokov that in most of America it is illegal to have sexual
> relations with someone under the age of 18. Even if you are from
> Europe someplace.
>
> Joseph Williams

Do I detect the Quiltian tone? And Joseph, I volunteer to make your point
to Mr. McNab. I believe he is in Zembla someplace.