Subject
Graham Greene and Nabokov (fwd)
Date
Body
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 1994 11:08:37 EST
From: Eric ROMAN <EROMAN@hsscls.hssc.scarolina.edu>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.BITNET
Subject: Graham Greene and Nabokov
Just a few passing references I came across while colleting data for
my dissertation (Secondary annotated Bibliography from French and
American sources between 1980 and 1992; These titbits will be
included)
* VITA AND HAROLD: THE LETTERS OF VITA SACKVILLE WEST AND HAROLD
NICHOLSON ed. by Nigel Nicholson (New York: G.P Putnam, 1992) p. 426
Letter from Harold to Vita dated July 14 1959 sent from C.1 Albany
"I have still not disinfected myself from the slime of LOLITA.
[footnote] It is nonsense for Niggs to assert that it is a "great"
work of literature. Literature will not experience any loss if it is
not published. I think it a very clever book and well written. But
I also think it 'obscene' in the sense of 'liable to corrupt'. It is
absurd for Niggs to contend that it is a 'cautionary tale' and will
deter those who have this temptation from wishing to practise it.
Perverts of that sort are obsessed by the physical appeal and do not
mind if lolita was a horrid little minx. Nabokov has stressed tyhe
physical appeal with such licentious insistence that the pervert will
be encouraged in his passion rather than discouraged."
the Footnote reads: "The novel by Vladimir Nabokov, which Weindenfelt
and Nicholson published in 1959 in defiance of much controversy.
Vita and Harold were among those who considered it obscene. Today it
is regarded as a minor classic."
* THE LETTERS OF EVELYN WAUGH AND DIANA COOPER edited by Artemis
Cooper (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1991)originally published in
1991 in Great Britain as Mr WU AND MRS STITCH: THE LETTERS OF
EVELYN WAUGH AND DIANA COOPER by Hodder and Stoughton
Letter of Waugh to Diana, sent from Piers Court dated February 26
1956: "Mr. G. Greene is making an ass of Himself--first advertising
an indecent book called LOLITA [by Vladimir Nabokov] and then trying
to reorganize a rag of the editor of your dream child [Lord
Beaverbrook]] for mocking him. page 218
Note: the editor added the name of the author after the title.
To be continued...Another reference by Nicolson
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 1994 11:08:37 EST
From: Eric ROMAN <EROMAN@hsscls.hssc.scarolina.edu>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.BITNET
Subject: Graham Greene and Nabokov
Just a few passing references I came across while colleting data for
my dissertation (Secondary annotated Bibliography from French and
American sources between 1980 and 1992; These titbits will be
included)
* VITA AND HAROLD: THE LETTERS OF VITA SACKVILLE WEST AND HAROLD
NICHOLSON ed. by Nigel Nicholson (New York: G.P Putnam, 1992) p. 426
Letter from Harold to Vita dated July 14 1959 sent from C.1 Albany
"I have still not disinfected myself from the slime of LOLITA.
[footnote] It is nonsense for Niggs to assert that it is a "great"
work of literature. Literature will not experience any loss if it is
not published. I think it a very clever book and well written. But
I also think it 'obscene' in the sense of 'liable to corrupt'. It is
absurd for Niggs to contend that it is a 'cautionary tale' and will
deter those who have this temptation from wishing to practise it.
Perverts of that sort are obsessed by the physical appeal and do not
mind if lolita was a horrid little minx. Nabokov has stressed tyhe
physical appeal with such licentious insistence that the pervert will
be encouraged in his passion rather than discouraged."
the Footnote reads: "The novel by Vladimir Nabokov, which Weindenfelt
and Nicholson published in 1959 in defiance of much controversy.
Vita and Harold were among those who considered it obscene. Today it
is regarded as a minor classic."
* THE LETTERS OF EVELYN WAUGH AND DIANA COOPER edited by Artemis
Cooper (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1991)originally published in
1991 in Great Britain as Mr WU AND MRS STITCH: THE LETTERS OF
EVELYN WAUGH AND DIANA COOPER by Hodder and Stoughton
Letter of Waugh to Diana, sent from Piers Court dated February 26
1956: "Mr. G. Greene is making an ass of Himself--first advertising
an indecent book called LOLITA [by Vladimir Nabokov] and then trying
to reorganize a rag of the editor of your dream child [Lord
Beaverbrook]] for mocking him. page 218
Note: the editor added the name of the author after the title.
To be continued...Another reference by Nicolson