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This is very sad news.
Dmitri Nabokov was an exceedingly kind and generous person, charming
and courteous and always quick to help anyone with a question about his
father. I first made contact with him when I was studying for my PhD. I
faxed a rather obtuse question and to my surprise he replied speedily
and in great detail. When I had the chance to meet him a year or so
later, he remembered me and my work and was quite charming. I contacted
him again in 2008 to ask if he would allow me to use some family
photographs in a book I was working on, and he was just as quick to
reply, and with a lovely sense of humour. He suggested some extra
sources and offered to help with permissions, and was even delighted
that I'd managed to find some images he claimed to have never seen, so
in a very small way I felt like I was able to return his extremely
gracious favour.
The Nabokov world has been incredibly fortunate to have had someone who
was prepared to contribute so much, but who also demonstrated such
enthusiasm, dedication, integrity and immense care. We are greatly
indebted to him.
Barbara Wyllie
UCL SSEES