Annotations by Alexey Sklyarenko

Describing Gradus’ visit to Oswin Bretwit (the former Zemblan consul in Paris), Kinbote (in VN’s novel Pale Fire, 1962, Shade’s mad commentator who imagines that he is Charles the Beloved, the last self-exiled king of Zembla) mentions the roofs of Paris:

In Canto Four of his poem John Shade (the poet in VN’s novel Pale Fire, 1962) describes shaving and says that now he will speak of evil and despair as none has spoken before:

My Adam's apple is a prickly pear:

Now I shall speak of evil and despair

As none has spoken. Five, six, seven, eight,

Nine strokes are not enough. Ten. I palpate

Describing his rented house, Kinbote (in VN’s novel Pale Fire, 1962, Shade’s mad commentator who imagines that he is Charles the Beloved, the last self-exiled king of Zembla) mentions Lake Omega, the larger and sadder of the three conjoined lakes near New Wye:

Describing King Alfin’s death in an aviation accident, Kinbote (in VN’s novel Pale Fire, 1962, Shade’s mad commentator who imagines that he is Charles the Beloved, the last self-exiled king of Zembla) mentions Prince Andrey Kachurin, the famous Russian stunter and War One hero:

In VN’s novel Look at the Harlequins! (1974) Vadim Vadimovich’s daughter Bel marries Charlie Everett who changes his name to Karl Ivanovich Vetrov and takes his wife to the Soviet Russia:

Describing Lucette’s visit to Kingston, Van Veen (the narrator and main character in VN’s novel Ada, 1969) compares Lucette’s words “Who cares for Sustermans” to a Latin footballer’s rovesciata:

In VN’s novel Ada (1969) Demon Veen (Van’s and Ada’s father) learns about Marina’s affair with Baron d’Onsky from a Bohemian lady:

Describing his dinner with Ada and her family in Bellevue Hotel in Mont Roux, Van Veen (the narrator and main character in VN’s novel Ada, 1969) mentions the two agents of Lemorio (the flamboyant comedian) and their adopted child, a lovely Eurasian lad, who had recently been slain in a night-club fracas:

Describing the first time when Ada had glimpsed him, Van Veen (the narrator and main character in VN’s novel Ada, 1969) mentions Bagrov’s grandson, a nice quiet little fellow who quietly massacred moles and anything else with fur on:

Describing Victor Vitry’s film version of his novel Letters from Terra, Van Veen (the narrator and main character in VN’s novel Ada, 1969) mentions the lovely leading lady, Norwegian-born Gedda Vitry (the director’s wife who played Theresa, a character in Van’s novel), and compares Theresa to some lewd elf: