Alexey: Unfortunately, this article is too long to be
translated into English. All I can do is to write short commentaries in English
about certain aspects discussed in my piece. I'm sorry to hear that
they are insufficient. Well, apparently only a multi-lingual
reader, with a knowledge of Russian history and literature, can enjoy
Ada to the full.
JM: I cannot agree with you
about "only a multi-lingual reader[...]can enjoy ADA to
the full".
In the first place because, as I see it,
to enjoy a novel to the full is still rather "relative" (it
doesn't fit into any "absolute" category).
Secondly, because every reader sets
himself different aims and joys.
I'm sure there are third, fourth or even
limitless items which I'm unable to ennumerate.
Although we may agree, as a first
step, that "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" and that the
richer a reader's vision, more fully is the object he experiences liable to
produce nuanced responses and joyful appreciation or recognition, even
so... there is no universal standard to measure this "fullness".
Even a poor monolingual reader that has to
remain tied to a translation of VN can reach various high levels of art as
"directly" as possible. At least, I think this is one of VN's very important
facets: to write from a position that often transcends certain limitations of
plot, game and even, words.
A.S: BTW, here
are a couple of new thoughts about "Gory Mary" that seem
relevant[...]
JM: From an American-English
position ( which actually is not mine) I remember having brought up in a
past posting at the List various aspects of children's rhymes on "Gory
Mary" . The Mother-Goosepimply songs are gaily sung, as if innocent of the
"gory" implications of which I feel VN was also aware. If possible I'll
retrieve these messages from the
archives.