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There's a general answer to such questions as "Was VN aware of X?"
where X is a literary or artistic item: Probably YES! I then add the
coda: If I'm aware of X, then VN certainly was! Proof (of sorts)
follows.
BB (VN-TAY) lists the newspapers and journals VN bought regularly once
settled in Montreux. Two were of immediate significance to me, since
I've also
subscribed for ages and at least read the contents list, more often
every word. The TLS (Times Literary Supplement) and NYRB (New York
Review of Books) would keep VN rather fully informed of most Xs! His
prodigious memory would do the rest. Drawing conclusions about
"influences" is a different kettle of worms, certainly not one to be
broached in VN's presence!
Jansy: I may have misread you, but are you aware that Zimmer Frames
are walking aids for the disabled? Two connected inverted U-shapes
providing four "feet" and
two "arms."
Aunt Maud's 'intact room' reminds one of Dickens' Copperfield, and
also Queen Victoria who kept Albert's room & stuff 'frozen' in
time.
It's clearly a difficult fad for the poor! Deaths in working-class
homes had the upside of freeing a room or part thereof! Hence the
Scouse saying "We've lost a grand-dad but gained a bed!"
The 'open index' is intriguing. We have all the _missing_ words
between 'Moor' and 'Moral.' 'Moot' and 'Mope' spring to mind. Remember
the vital importance of _absent_ clues! There may be scope here for
cunning allusional stunts, comparing the M entries in Maud's and
Kinbote's Indexes. NB Neither 'Maud' nor 'Aunt Maud' make Kinbote's
index. Discuss.
An early spell-checker I worked on would offer useful positional
advice, such as:
'The word 'shit' does not appear in this dictionary but it would fall
between 'shirt' and 'shiver.'
skb