Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0008298, Sat, 2 Aug 2003 21:47:32 -0700

Subject
Fw: Nabokov and Mann
Date
Body
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ignatius Edmond" <osberg@CARAMAIL.COM>
>
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> Hello nabokovians! This is my first contribution to this Forum. Well, what
> motivated me to write was this Nabokov attitude towards Mann and germany
in
> general.
> Last year in Spain, "Situaciones postales" (Postal Situations), has been
> awarded the Anagrama Essay Prize in Spain which is one of the most
> important events in the editorial world of this country. This book,
written
> by an Argentinian philosopher called Thomas Abraham, was about postal
> relationships such as Nabokov-Wilson's and Mary Mc Carthy-Hanna Arendt's
> and some interconnections between them. In this book the author talked
> about many things concerning some of the Nabokov "phobias" and
"contempts".
> With regard to the one about "Death in Venice", Thomas Abraham suggested
> that what really annoyed Nabokov was this scene where over-excited
> Aschenbach is on the beach, appretiating each detail of Tadzio's beautiful
> physionomy and spirit. Suddenly a discordant note disturbs the observer. A
> Slavic family possibly Russian put in an appearance, the same crude, noisy
> family he noticed with dsipleasure at dinner from his table at the hotel
> the night before. He looks down and with violen disdain, turns over. He
> waits this Russian ugliness to fade out.
> I don't know if that makes any sense at all. But I'm sure that many of you
> will be able to make interesting suggestions either to attack or simply to
> give further information. Good Holidays!!
>