Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0008175, Tue, 22 Jul 2003 20:45:47 -0700

Subject
Fw: VN and Chaplin redux, sort of
Date
Body
EDNOTE. NABOKV-L thanks Glen Kenny for this item. It shows, inter alia, that
VN could and did judge the artistry and political views of the artist as
separable issues.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenny, Glenn" <gkenny@hfmus.com>
To: "D. Barton Johnson (E-mail)" <chtodel@cox.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 2:09 PM
Subject: VN and Chaplin redux, sort of


> To paraphrase Clint Eastwood's immortal character "Dirty" Harry Callahan,
in
> all the recent excitement I'd forgotten that VN lavishes praise on
Chaplin's
> "The Gold Rush," "The Circus," and "The Great Dictator" in a 1969
interview
> with Alfred Appel (who else?) reprinted (where else?) in Strong Opinons,
> section 15. See page 163 of the McGraw Hill paperback. After recounting a
> favorite bit from "Dictator," VN concludes, "However, today's Little Man
> appeal has somewhat spoiled Chaplin's attraction for me." Only "somewhat,"
> it turns out!...
>
> And that would pretty much appear to be that.
>
>
> Glenn Kenny
>