Carolyn Kunin: Many will recall Pale Fire's Gerald Emerald, too, of course. I'm not sure if he has ever been discussed on the List.[   ] p.s. Alexey! which is that 'legendary oak'? a learned cat goes to and fro, no? And why the sea shade? Kitezh perhaps?? How about that 'immer, immer' - Heine perhaps? or Goethe?
 
Jansy Mello: Emeralds and aquamarines, amber and pink quartz, diamonds... There are lots of gems in VN's novels but my favorite one relates to VN's mother's glittering necklace as described in Speak, Memory. 
Gerald Emerald and his tie remains a mystery to me, he seems so insignificant and, at the same time, playing a crucial role in Kinbote's mind by directing Gradus to Charlie. 
The legendary oak, and cats going to a fro is probably the one you're hinting at, from Pushkin's poem in ADA? How to significantly relate VN's poem to Pushkin's ?   
Could "Immer, Immer" also indicate a pop song? 
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