EDNote: the joke is explained by careful examination of DN's enquoted phrase, which I think has only one typo, not two [and maybe none!].  Think of it as a mutant crossword puzzle clue.  ~SB


Subject:
RE: [NABOKV-L] THOUGHTS: Derzhavin's Acrostic
From:
laurence hochard <laurence.hochard@hotmail.fr>
Date:
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:47:48 +0100
To:
Vladimir Nabokov Forum <nabokv-l@listserv.ucsb.edu>

Doubtful nightingale: I don't get the joke either but it sounds like a parody of Sebastian Knight's last novel.
  Luarence Hochard
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:28:57 -0500
From: nabokv-l@UTK.EDU
Subject: [NABOKV-L] THOUGHTS: Derzhavin's Acrostic
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU


Subject:
Re: [NABOKV-L] THOUGHTS: Derzhavin's acrostic (was "New Republic" etc)
From:
Dmitri Nabokov
Date:
Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:33:55 +0100
To:
Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@listserv.ucsb.edu>


  "Accidential acrostrich", whether sharp, flat, honored, read, or ruined must have been doubtful nightingale even to Derzhavin's ear. Sorry, DN

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