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Kunin comments on Zimmer letter
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to post or not to post?
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
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Even if it could be substantiated that Nabokov in fact knew Lichberg's story, there would be little insight to be gained from a discovery of this sort. Nabokov was a most avid reader, and in all of his works there are countless overt and covert literary echos. A Lichberg echo in Lolita would be just one more, and not a significant one. It wouldn't matter.
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> Dr. Dieter E. Zimmer
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Dear Dr Zimmer,
I am inclined to agree with you. Most of the resemblances don't seem to add up to much. However I do think that some future scholar who traces Nabokov's attitude to German literature may perhaps find more here (and in other instances) than meets the eye.
It is interesting that Nabokov tried to deny any knowledge of German. I did it myself. And in retrospect I find it an interesting phenomenon. I won't speculate further, but it is interesting.
Does it matter? I think that really is the question, and I would hope to see the List members discuss that further. Perhaps it would be helpful to look at the Bruder und Schwester evidence in this context. Don?
Carolyn
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
_______________________________________________________________________
Even if it could be substantiated that Nabokov in fact knew Lichberg's story, there would be little insight to be gained from a discovery of this sort. Nabokov was a most avid reader, and in all of his works there are countless overt and covert literary echos. A Lichberg echo in Lolita would be just one more, and not a significant one. It wouldn't matter.
>
> Dr. Dieter E. Zimmer
>
>
>
Dear Dr Zimmer,
I am inclined to agree with you. Most of the resemblances don't seem to add up to much. However I do think that some future scholar who traces Nabokov's attitude to German literature may perhaps find more here (and in other instances) than meets the eye.
It is interesting that Nabokov tried to deny any knowledge of German. I did it myself. And in retrospect I find it an interesting phenomenon. I won't speculate further, but it is interesting.
Does it matter? I think that really is the question, and I would hope to see the List members discuss that further. Perhaps it would be helpful to look at the Bruder und Schwester evidence in this context. Don?
Carolyn