Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0022862, Mon, 21 May 2012 13:59:00 -0300

Subject
Re: real Cantaboff solution
From
Date
Body
Re: [NABOKV-L] real Cantaboff solutionStan Kelly-Bootle (Cantab) writes:"Equally, possibly more plausible: Cantabrigian Boffin. VN was both: Cambridge University and Brainy Sod!" ( Tom Rymour pointed out the same link with Cantabrigian and Cambridge)

Jansy Mello: The easiest solution proves to be the more reasonable one ! In Nabokov's case, it often isn't... It occurred to me that there's a lesson to be learned from all our former disparate attempts. How about developing a special tactical move to deal with VN's dark mysteries? Namely, to identify the simplest, most obvious answer at first, and next, depart from it towards other hidden complexities. After all, why did Nabokov use the pen-name Cantaboff to emphasize his years at Cambridge University: - does it serve any particular purpose? I can more easily imagine it for Sebastian Knight (English-Russian).
I've no access right now to Brian Boyd's autobiographical books (RY and AY) to find out when did VN use "Cantaboff" and if, then, he might have also played with Cambridge, Massachussetts*. I favor the hypothesis that many of Nabokov's riddles are "open-ended."

.............................................................................................................
wiki: Cantabrigian is an adjective [ ] derived from Cantabrigia, a medieval Latin name for Cambridge invented on the basis of the Anglo-Saxon name Cantebrigge. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, the name "Cantabrigia" appears in the city seal and (abbreviated to "Cantab") in the seal of the Episcopal Divinity School, located therein. A pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts called the Cantab Lounge is a play on this abbreviation and perhaps its homophony with the 'can tab' of a beer can [. ]In England, the nickname "Tab" used by Oxonians (those affiliated with Oxford University) as a term of derision for those affiliated with Cambridge University, is a contraction of Cantabrigian.

Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en

Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com

Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/







Attachment