Subject
Re: Re Shklovsky-VN query (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. NABOKV-L thanks Alexander Dolinin for his response below.
-----------------------------
From: Dolinin <dolinin@facstaff.wisc.edu>
The Nabokov-Formalism connection has been discussed mostly in
Russian criticism. Omri Ronen was the first to suggest that "A Guide to
Berlin" can be read as Nabokov's response to Shklovsky's descriptions of
the city in his Zoo, or Letters Not About Love (see his "Zaum' za predelami
avangarda," in Literaturnoe obozrenie, 1991, no.12: 36-43). His conclusive
article on the subject is to appear in St. Petersburg monthly Zvezda
(1999, no. 4). Beside Irina Paperno's excellent essay, I would recommend L.
Katsis's article "Nabokov i Tynianov" (Piatye Tynianovskie chteniia. Riga,
1990, 275-293). Aage Hansen-Løve discusses affinities of Nabokov's poetics
and Formalist teachings in his seminal Der russische Formalismus, 580-86
and I write about Shklovsky as a target of Nabokov's parodies as well as
Khodasevich's devastating critique in my "Tri zametki o Dare" (see Pro i
kontra, 724-730).
As far as I know there is no evidence of Nabokov ever meeting
Shklovsky in Berlin but they would certainly attend at least a couple of
the same literary gatherings and readings in 1922-23 (Sklovsky lived in
Berlin from June 1922 to September 1923 and was very active in the literary
community). By the way, Shklovsky's housemate at a Berlin "pension" (not
unlike that of Frau Dorn in Mary) was Yuly Aikhenwald whom VN personally
knew and could visit at home. It is fun to imagine VN and Shklovsky stuck
in the elevator like Ganin and Alfyorov.
Alexander Dolinin
>> From: Michael Glynn <mglynn@pcfe.plymouth.ac.uk>
>> I hope you will not mind my writing to you with a query. I am an
>> English teacher undertaking part time research towards an MPhil
>> degree at Exeter University, England. In connection with this
>> research, I have been attempting to ascertain whether Nabokov, during
>> the Berlin phase of his career, met Shlovsky or any other
>> Formalists. Boyd remarks that Shlovsky visited Berlin whilst Nabokov
>> was there. I am aware of Nabokov's desultory and unsatisfactory
>> relations with Jakobson in America, but have been unable to ascertain
>> whether he met, or was familiar with the work of, any Formalists
>> whilst in Berlin. Having drawn a blank to date, I am writing to
>> enquire whether you are aware of any sources I could consult in order
>> to further my research.
>>
>> Thank You,
>> Michael Glynn
>> --------------------------
>> EDITOR's NOTE. VN was certain aware of the Russian Formalists, although
>> there is not, so far as I know, a lot of documentation thereof. Maxim
>> Shrayer writes about the Shklovsky-VN relationship in his new book _The
>> World of Nabokov's Short Stories_ (Un. of Texas, 1998), I believe. I know
>> he published an article on oneof the VN stories and Shklovsky. So far as I
>> remember Tony Tanner (Cityof Words?) was among the first to point to
>> parallels between the VN and the Formalists.
>>
-----------------------------
From: Dolinin <dolinin@facstaff.wisc.edu>
The Nabokov-Formalism connection has been discussed mostly in
Russian criticism. Omri Ronen was the first to suggest that "A Guide to
Berlin" can be read as Nabokov's response to Shklovsky's descriptions of
the city in his Zoo, or Letters Not About Love (see his "Zaum' za predelami
avangarda," in Literaturnoe obozrenie, 1991, no.12: 36-43). His conclusive
article on the subject is to appear in St. Petersburg monthly Zvezda
(1999, no. 4). Beside Irina Paperno's excellent essay, I would recommend L.
Katsis's article "Nabokov i Tynianov" (Piatye Tynianovskie chteniia. Riga,
1990, 275-293). Aage Hansen-Løve discusses affinities of Nabokov's poetics
and Formalist teachings in his seminal Der russische Formalismus, 580-86
and I write about Shklovsky as a target of Nabokov's parodies as well as
Khodasevich's devastating critique in my "Tri zametki o Dare" (see Pro i
kontra, 724-730).
As far as I know there is no evidence of Nabokov ever meeting
Shklovsky in Berlin but they would certainly attend at least a couple of
the same literary gatherings and readings in 1922-23 (Sklovsky lived in
Berlin from June 1922 to September 1923 and was very active in the literary
community). By the way, Shklovsky's housemate at a Berlin "pension" (not
unlike that of Frau Dorn in Mary) was Yuly Aikhenwald whom VN personally
knew and could visit at home. It is fun to imagine VN and Shklovsky stuck
in the elevator like Ganin and Alfyorov.
Alexander Dolinin
>> From: Michael Glynn <mglynn@pcfe.plymouth.ac.uk>
>> I hope you will not mind my writing to you with a query. I am an
>> English teacher undertaking part time research towards an MPhil
>> degree at Exeter University, England. In connection with this
>> research, I have been attempting to ascertain whether Nabokov, during
>> the Berlin phase of his career, met Shlovsky or any other
>> Formalists. Boyd remarks that Shlovsky visited Berlin whilst Nabokov
>> was there. I am aware of Nabokov's desultory and unsatisfactory
>> relations with Jakobson in America, but have been unable to ascertain
>> whether he met, or was familiar with the work of, any Formalists
>> whilst in Berlin. Having drawn a blank to date, I am writing to
>> enquire whether you are aware of any sources I could consult in order
>> to further my research.
>>
>> Thank You,
>> Michael Glynn
>> --------------------------
>> EDITOR's NOTE. VN was certain aware of the Russian Formalists, although
>> there is not, so far as I know, a lot of documentation thereof. Maxim
>> Shrayer writes about the Shklovsky-VN relationship in his new book _The
>> World of Nabokov's Short Stories_ (Un. of Texas, 1998), I believe. I know
>> he published an article on oneof the VN stories and Shklovsky. So far as I
>> remember Tony Tanner (Cityof Words?) was among the first to point to
>> parallels between the VN and the Formalists.
>>