Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0002381, Thu, 25 Sep 1997 10:00:16 -0700

Subject
Nabokoviana
Date
Body
In the October issue of Harper's Magazine, there is a 'Folio' piece
entitled "Driving Mr. Albert: A Trip Across America with Einstein's
Brain" by Michael Paterniti. This is an account of Paterniti's
cross-country journey in the company of Thomas Harvey, the pathologist
who through happenstance conducted the autopsy on Einstein and calmly
appropriated his brain, and the chopped-up brain itself. Speaking of
Harvey's relationship with the organ, Paterniti says that "in a way,
it is a tale of obsessive love: Humbert Humbert and his Lolita."

(Also of possible interest to those Nabokovians who keep tabs on
appearances of the phrase succès de scandale: Paterniti later uses it
to describe an eight-inch rubber sex toy "topped by the smiley-faced
head of President Ronald Reagan," the jewel in the crown of a
collection of "black-market desecrations" belonging to one Roger
Richman. Richman is a Los Angeles-based celebrity-licensing agent who
represents the estates of various deceased celebrities, and oversees
the "official" use of Einstein's image to advertise such products as
video games, telephone companies and insurance. Let us be especially
grateful for the vigilance of Vera and Dmitri Nabokov!)

Neil Spence
Nspence@pyrimage.com
(415) 247-5845