Shade's mother has the maiden name Lukin. As has recently been pointed out here, this is a common Russian surname. I did a quick Google search and found that practically every person with this last name is Russian.
As the discoverer of the Russian nature of Lukin, I would also like to point out that Kinbote, an expert in the derivation of surnames (this is one of those few clues with a red flag attached to it), is also correct in his claim that it is a family name in Surrey (or wherever). I was able to verify this also thanks to google.
[multiple personality] theory uses much of the same evidence as Boyd's "from beyond" theory to come to a much more elegant solution. Matthew Roth
hmmm, doesn't our lurking co-editor's post throw some possible light on the "from beyond" vs the "from the subconscious" dichotomy (see quote below)? At least we now know that VN had some interest and knowledge in this blurred area.
Carolyn
* "There are also notes that relate to psychical research: Psychical Research Today (D.J. West, 1954) and examples of secondary personalities; also, a long-ish reference to The Case of Patience Worth ((W.F. Prince, 1927)--a renowned case of channeling by a mid-western housewife of a 17th century author (during the years 1912-1937)."