Subject
Re: "Nova Zembla" (fwd)
Date
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Sam Schuman's posting below is in reply to Donald Harington's
horticultural query re "Nova Zembla." In his 1981 note Schuman quotes
Field's NABOKV: HIS LIFE IN PART where Field tells of VN's
Great-grandfather (1795-1873) participated in an expedition to Novaya
Zemlya where a river was named for him. VN gives the same information in
Chapter III of SPEAK, MEMORY. Boyd points out that VN was mistaken. VN's
ancestor did not participate in the expedition, although the river was
named for him by his friend, the expedition leader. VN was mulling over
PALE FIRE at the time he learned of his ancestor's connection with Nova
Zembla. AS to the Rhododendron named "Nova Zembla," my guess would be that
the cultivar might be descended from a species originating in Novaya
Zemlya and perhaps first described as a result of the early expedition.
It shouldn't be too hard for a plant taxonomist to trace the history of
the name. If the "Nova Zembla" name is relatively recent, there might be
some connection with VN's SPEAK, MEMORY. If not, my historical guess
might be right. DBJ
From: SSCHUMAN@unca.edu
In the Spring, 1981 issue of the NVRN (now Nabokovian) I had a little note
called "Another 'Nova Zembla'," on just this subject (hardly the sort of
earth-shaking publication anyone remembers!). My conclusion:
A true Kinbotian plant--one horticultural direction urges to "give them some
shade."
Sam Schuman
horticultural query re "Nova Zembla." In his 1981 note Schuman quotes
Field's NABOKV: HIS LIFE IN PART where Field tells of VN's
Great-grandfather (1795-1873) participated in an expedition to Novaya
Zemlya where a river was named for him. VN gives the same information in
Chapter III of SPEAK, MEMORY. Boyd points out that VN was mistaken. VN's
ancestor did not participate in the expedition, although the river was
named for him by his friend, the expedition leader. VN was mulling over
PALE FIRE at the time he learned of his ancestor's connection with Nova
Zembla. AS to the Rhododendron named "Nova Zembla," my guess would be that
the cultivar might be descended from a species originating in Novaya
Zemlya and perhaps first described as a result of the early expedition.
It shouldn't be too hard for a plant taxonomist to trace the history of
the name. If the "Nova Zembla" name is relatively recent, there might be
some connection with VN's SPEAK, MEMORY. If not, my historical guess
might be right. DBJ
From: SSCHUMAN@unca.edu
In the Spring, 1981 issue of the NVRN (now Nabokovian) I had a little note
called "Another 'Nova Zembla'," on just this subject (hardly the sort of
earth-shaking publication anyone remembers!). My conclusion:
A true Kinbotian plant--one horticultural direction urges to "give them some
shade."
Sam Schuman