Subject
Nabokovian novelists in the UK (fwd)
Date
Body
NABOKOVIANS: John Lavagnino's proposal (below) of Martin Amis as a British
Nabokovite is a good one. Julian Barnes also has some claim, I think.
Having mulled the matter over a bit, it occurs to me that Tom Stoppard is
probably the most Nabokoivan of all. Although primarily a playwrite he
has written one novel which I recall as entertaining:
_Lord somebody & Mr. Moon_??. He is also bi-lingual, I believe, having
been transplanted from Czechoslovakia to England (and India?) in his youth. A
letter by David English in the NEW YORKER (15 Nov., p. 8)
commenting on the recent obituary of Peter De Vries (another writer of
almost Nabokovian verbal dexterity and an uncanny parodist) points out, en
passant, that "Tom Stoppard once said his favorite parenthesis in world
literature is in _Lolita_: "My very photogenic mother died in a freak
accident (picnic, lightening) when I was three" and then goes on to cite
a more extended example from De Vries' work.
Someone (was it John L.?) recently raised the issue of Nabokov's
parenthetic penchant--arising, as I recall, from Nicolson Baker (???spelling?)
essay in the NYRB (?). The Editor
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 12:43 EDT
From: John Lavagnino <LAV@BRANDEIS.BITNET>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.BITNET
Subject: Nabokovian novelists in the UK
Martin Amis is another British Nabokovian: indeed, his latest book is
called "Visiting Mrs. Nabokov". His rather negative review of Look At
the Harlequins! shouldn't be taken as indicating his general opinion of
Nabokov's work.
John Lavagnino
Department of English and American Literature, Brandeis University
Nabokovite is a good one. Julian Barnes also has some claim, I think.
Having mulled the matter over a bit, it occurs to me that Tom Stoppard is
probably the most Nabokoivan of all. Although primarily a playwrite he
has written one novel which I recall as entertaining:
_Lord somebody & Mr. Moon_??. He is also bi-lingual, I believe, having
been transplanted from Czechoslovakia to England (and India?) in his youth. A
letter by David English in the NEW YORKER (15 Nov., p. 8)
commenting on the recent obituary of Peter De Vries (another writer of
almost Nabokovian verbal dexterity and an uncanny parodist) points out, en
passant, that "Tom Stoppard once said his favorite parenthesis in world
literature is in _Lolita_: "My very photogenic mother died in a freak
accident (picnic, lightening) when I was three" and then goes on to cite
a more extended example from De Vries' work.
Someone (was it John L.?) recently raised the issue of Nabokov's
parenthetic penchant--arising, as I recall, from Nicolson Baker (???spelling?)
essay in the NYRB (?). The Editor
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 12:43 EDT
From: John Lavagnino <LAV@BRANDEIS.BITNET>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.BITNET
Subject: Nabokovian novelists in the UK
Martin Amis is another British Nabokovian: indeed, his latest book is
called "Visiting Mrs. Nabokov". His rather negative review of Look At
the Harlequins! shouldn't be taken as indicating his general opinion of
Nabokov's work.
John Lavagnino
Department of English and American Literature, Brandeis University