Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0000238, Sat, 16 Apr 1994 09:59:17 -0700

Subject
Pale Fire footprints (fwd)
Date
Body
=0A=0A=0A=0A---------- Forwarded message ----------=0ADate: Mon, 11 Apr 199=
4 11:25:46 +1100=0AFrom: Chris Ackerley <Chris.Ackerley@stonebow.otago.ac.n=
z>=0ATo: Nabokv-L-Request@UCSBVM.BITNET=0ASubject: Pale Fire footprints=0A=
=0AI don't think Kurt Scaletta is right about the Hound of the Baskervilles=
-=0Asurely the more obvious reference is to the celebrated struggle at the=
=0AFalls between Holmes and Moriaty, after which Holmes tries to conceal hi=
s=0A"death" by making one set of footprints apparently lead up to the falls=
,=0Aand none returning - whether this is best done by walking backwards or =
by=0Ataking off one's shoes and binding them backwards to one's feet is=0As=
omething that later Baker Street Irregulars have much discussed - but the=
=0Apoint for Nabokov surely being, =E0 la Shade, the elaborate artistic sta=
ging=0Aof his own death. I trust you have enjoyed this note.=0A =
Chris Ackerley.=0A=0A=0Ag from you.
Simon Williams