Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0002091, Tue, 6 May 1997 11:29:36 -0700

Subject
VN and the Shakespeare authorship "problem" (fwd)
Date
Body
While browsing through the first few pages of Joseph Sobran's book
_Alias Shakespeare_, a recent exposition of the old claim that Shakespeare's
works were written pseudonymously by the Earl of Oxford, I noticed a mention of
Nabokov. According to Sobran, Nabokov expressed skepticism concerning the
authorship of Shakespeare's works. The Shakespeare Oxford Society's web page
also lists, among its "Honor Roll of Skeptics" who have "rejected the Stratford
attribution," "Vladmir Nabokov" [sic], who is further identified as a professor
at Cornell and Wellesley. Does anyone know where Nabokov expressed an opinion
which might have led the Oxfordian partisans to enlist him in their cause?

Thanks,
David Webb

EDITOR's NOTE. VN discusses the Shakespeare problem in BEND SINISTER,
chapter VII. A good many critics have discussed VN & Shakespeare. For
openers & bibliography, see the "Nabokov & Shakespeare essays in Vladimir
Alexandrov's _ Guide to Nabokov_. The Zimmer bibliography on ZEMBLA http:
//www.libraries.psu.edu/iasweb/nabokov/nsintro. would also be useful. See
there, as well, John DeMoss' "Index to _Strong Opinions_. Sam Schuman is
the leading scholar on VN & Shakespeare.