Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0002079, Thu, 1 May 1997 14:34:48 -0700

Subject
Andrey Balashov (fwd)
Date
Body
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 20:15:00 +0400 (MSD)
From: "Maria E. Malikova" <masha@assisi.spb.su>

Evgeny Belodubrovsky, bibilographer from St.Petersburg, has asked me to
put the following question to you Nabokovians. Has anybody undertaken
excavations re the destiny of Andrey Balashov, who authored with Nabokov
the poem collection "Dva puti" (1918). He's obtained some evidence about
Andrey Vladimirovich Balashov, who lived in Belgrad, wrote poems and
reminisciences,had some publications in "Chasovoy" newspaper and died in
emigration around 1960 - but he doubts whether this is the right one.
Following is an extract from his verse from "Dva puti" (Nabokov's are no
better).

Yours sincerely, Maria Malikova

Dve zhizni
Bal v polnom razgare, vesel'e i shutki,
Iz damskih naryadov krasivyi buket,
Za oknami temno i sumerki zhutki,
Dvorets slovno fakel ognyami odet.

V dvortse karnavaly i roskosh i nega,
V nem tol'ko vesel'e, v nem goresti net.
Za oknami prosyat neschastnie khleba:
Podayte! No im ne uslyshat' otvet.
....
Ustalo konchalisya shumnye plyaski,
Poblek iz naryadov krasivy buket,
Za okanmi sumerki serye gasli
I teni lenivo polzli na parket.