Vladimir Nabokov

Annotations by Alexey Sklyarenko

Description

Please read Alexey Sklyarenko's annotations on Pale FireAda and other Nabokov works here.

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 30 November, 2025

Describing his visit to Ramsdale in September 1952 and meeting in the hotel lobby with Mrs. Chatfield, Humbert Humbert (the narrator and main character in VN's novel Lolita, 1955) mentions a wedding party, Murphy-Fantasia:

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 28 November, 2025

Describing his visit to Ramsdale in September 1952 and meeting in the hotel lobby with Mrs. Chatfield, Humbert Humbert (the narrator and main character in VN's novel Lolita, 1955) mentions a moon-faced waiter who was arranging with stellar care fifty sherries on a round tray for a wedding party:

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 27 November, 2025

Describing his visit to Ramsdale in September 1952 and meeting in the hotel lobby with Mrs. Chatfield, Humbert Humbert (the narrator and main character in VN's novel Lolita, 1955) mentions a moon-faced waiter who was arranging with stellar care fifty sherries on a round tray for a wedding party:

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 26 November, 2025

Describing his visit to Ramsdale in September 1952 and meeting in the hotel lobby with Mrs. Chatfield, Humbert Humbert (the narrator and main character in VN's novel Lolita, 1955) mentions a group of ladies who with mille grâces were taking leave of each other after a luncheon party:

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 25 November, 2025

When Humbert Humbert (the narrator and main character in VN's novel Lolita, 1955) revisits Ramsdale in September 1952, Mrs. Chatfield tells him that she disapproves of early marriages and mentions her daughter Phyllis:

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 25 November, 2025

In the Russian Lolita (1967) 'Vivian Darkbloom' (the name of Clare Quilty’s coauthor, anagram of Vladimir Nabokov) becomes Vivian Damor-Blok and a biography she has written, ‘My Cue,’ becomes Kumir moy (“My Idol”):

 

By Alexey Sklyarenko , 23 November, 2025

In the Russian Lolita (1967) John Ray's Foreword to Humbert Humbert's manuscript is dated August 5, 1955:

 

Джон Рэй, д-р философии

Видворт, Массачусетс

5 августа 1955 года