Subject
LOLITA at Random House
Date
Body
EDITORIAL NOTE. The September 4, 1995 issue of THE NEW YORKER has an
interesting short essay, "The Book on LOLITA," by author William Styron
(p.33). Styron got and read the Olympia
Press edition in 1957. Knowing that American publishers were shy of the book,
Styron went to his editor, Hyram Haydn, who was the new star editor at
Bennet Cerf's Random House. Haydn, to Styron's surprize, was apoplectic
after reading LO. He told Styron "that he, Hiram Haydn, had a daughter the
age of the victim of Humbert Humbert's disgusting lust, and that when my
own daughter was that age perhaps I'd understand the hatred a man might
feel for LOLITA." On his way out, Styron found Bennet Cerf gazing
desolately into the distance: "'That novel is a masterpiece,' he said in
a choked voice, 'but I can't budge the man. He said if I overruled him he
would quit. He paused, then added, 'What a WONDERFUL book.'"
interesting short essay, "The Book on LOLITA," by author William Styron
(p.33). Styron got and read the Olympia
Press edition in 1957. Knowing that American publishers were shy of the book,
Styron went to his editor, Hyram Haydn, who was the new star editor at
Bennet Cerf's Random House. Haydn, to Styron's surprize, was apoplectic
after reading LO. He told Styron "that he, Hiram Haydn, had a daughter the
age of the victim of Humbert Humbert's disgusting lust, and that when my
own daughter was that age perhaps I'd understand the hatred a man might
feel for LOLITA." On his way out, Styron found Bennet Cerf gazing
desolately into the distance: "'That novel is a masterpiece,' he said in
a choked voice, 'but I can't budge the man. He said if I overruled him he
would quit. He paused, then added, 'What a WONDERFUL book.'"