I think there are two references to a previous liaison between Charlotte and Humbert - preceding the Haze/Hase/Hays marriage. It took place 13 years before Lolita's most immemorial (i.e. 12th) year. The first is a hint that Humbert drops to the newspaper when he goes to have the nuptials announced and the other -- well, I'll have to look for it.
Mrs Farlow seems to know about it, too. I'll have to check to make sure it's not another of those film memories.
I'll get back to you.
If Humbert is Lolita's biological father it gives him further incentive to try to protect his daughter, but it would seem he is too late.
By the way, did I miss something or does the second world war not seem to
have affected anyone in the novel? Is it even hinted at?
carolyn
From: Jansy Mello <jansy.nabokv-L@AETERN.US>
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 4:35
PM
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Taking Humbert and Quilty Singularly
Carolyn Kunin [to JM]: But I'm
impressed that you suspected Humbert's innocence - it never occurred to me until
just a few weeks ago, in relation to the accusation against Colette (de
Juvenal).I;ve been re-reading Lolita since I wrote in - and
I am more and more convinced that Humbert in fact is Lolita's biological
father...I hope others will join us in this quest for the guilty
party.
Jansy Mello: I needed you to say that HH
might be "innocent," because my suspicions were hazy and not actually
formulated (most of his adventures suggested instances of erotic
fantasies migled with paranoia, idealization, wishful thinking ...
and that's as far as I went).
Now you say that Humbert is Lolita's biological father? How
come?
All private editorial communications are
read by both co-editors.