Vladimir Nabokov

Annotations by Alexey Sklyarenko

Description

Please read Alexey Sklyarenko's annotations on Pale FireAda and other Nabokov works here.

By Alexey Sklyarenko, 5 May, 2022

In a conversation with Van in “Ardis the Second” Marina (in VN’s novel Ada, 1969, Van’s, Ada’s and Lucette’s mother) tells Van that the Zemskis were terrible rakes (razvratniki):

 

Naked-faced, dull-haired, wrapped up in her oldest kimono (her Pedro had suddenly left for Rio), Marina reclined on her mahogany bed under a golden-yellow quilt, drinking tea with mare’s milk, one of her fads.

By Alexey Sklyarenko, 4 May, 2022

In his conversation with Marina (in VN’s novel Ada, 1969, Van’s, Ada’s and Lucette’s mother) in "Ardis the Second" Van uses the word erunda (nonsense) and Marina mentions takie malyutki (so tiny children):

 

Naked-faced, dull-haired, wrapped up in her oldest kimono (her Pedro had suddenly left for Rio), Marina reclined on her mahogany bed under a golden-yellow quilt, drinking tea with mare’s milk, one of her fads.