Subject: Turgenev and cryptology (From Carolyn Kunin)
While I'm at it, does anyone know anything about Turgenev's interest in cryptology? I have come to believe that Turgenev had James, who had no such interest, plant a number of "easter eggs" in the story that point to Pushkin and Pikovaia Dama––the most obvious of these is the name of the poet, Aspern. Any guesses why? First to answer correctly may choose a prize from the following: Pale Fire, (1st Putnam edition, 1962 with protected dustjacket) Vladimir Markov's Commentary on Bal'mont's Poetry 1890––1909 (Böhlau Verlag, 1988––in Russian) A Selection of Essays on Slovo o polku Igoreve, edited by R Jakobson & E Simmons (American Folklore Society, 1949) Michael Maar The Two Lolitas (Verso, 2005)
Clarification and deadline
The question I posed was awkwardly expressed. I should have asked: In what way does the name Aspern indicate Pushkin. Remember that I'm assuming that Turgenev planted this as a cryptological clue.
The prizes will remain available until Thanksgiving. If no one wins I will supply the answer on November 27.
Carolyn Kunin
For human eyes
I see this forum has become completely moribund and therefore––on the remote chance anyone reads these pages (besides A-I which seems to read everything)––I hereby cancel the contest. There will be no Big Reveal on Thanksgiving or, indeed, any other day. On this forum I mean. I do intend to publish eventually––for human eyes.
Dusty Doughnuts as we used to say from
Carolyn
Gee whiz, Carolyn, was I…
Gee whiz, Carolyn, was I even a little bit warm? BTW, the name ASPern suggests Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Also, James mentions the "Gordian Knot," which was undone by "Alexander the Great". Oh well. I found this all very interesting. In researching my paper, I had read that there had been disputes as to whether or how James would have read QoS, which had not yet been published in English, and some suspected that he heard it from his friend, Turgenev. I did not think to pursue the Turgenev info, but now I can see how crucial it is to PF and the major theme of literary appropriation, homages/parodies. So thanks for that.
inhuman intellect
Dear Carolyn,
If you were writing your posts in Russian, you too would be tempted to use AI, I assure you. Believe me, you would make full use of it (using it much more extensively than I do). Iskusstvennyi intellekt simplifies things greatly and allows you to spare a lot of time and thought effort (I'm lazy, you know). As to your prizes, I don't need them very much. And I don't care a dry fig for your Henry James. Best,
Alexey