Dear Carolyn,
 
Here it is:
 
True, some paces ahead, on the embankment, three
or four, possibly uniformed, men, smoking two or three
glowing cigarettes, relaxed on a bench while a seven-
stringed amorandola was being discreetly, romantically
thumbed in the dark, but they did not challenge Krug
and his delightful companion, nor indeed pay any attention
to them as the two passed.
 
Bend Sinister (McGraw-Hill, 1973), p. 21. Last paragraph of Chapter 2.
 
A. Bouazza.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU]On Behalf Of Carolyn Kunin
Sent: 13 January 2007 17:07
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] more on Amorandola

amorandola (amorální mandolína)

Dear A Bouazza,

I "hear" two possibilities here - - 'morous mandolin' and 'amoral mandolin'. Perhaps both.*

The viola d'amore (I had the pleasure of hearing a duet of viole d'amore years ago) is distinguished by two sets of strings, one to be played, the other to vibrate sympathetically.

Can you, or anyone else, give me the context in Bend Sinister? I was able to find  mention of it in the author's introduction, but not the context in the novel itself.

Carolyn


* W C Fields in an early silent film has a bass fiddle and cello left in a corner to their own devices for a while producing a little fiddle ...  The bass gets a scolding and is kicked out of the house.

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