Subject
Re: QUERY: Other writers' disparagement or envy of VN?
From
Date
Body
Ron Rosenbaum:"I've been thinking of writing an essay about what might be called Nabokov Derangement Syndrome. Which I would loosely define as the not-well examined phenomenon of good, even great writers not being aware of the envy beneath their disparaging remarks about VN. One could see it in those who denounced <Laura> ...They were clearly elated to have some grounds to feel superior momentarily to someone who was superior in finished work. Now I'm not one to call VN perfect, but I recently came across quotes from Updike and Geoff Dyer (I believe they were quoted in reviews republished on this list) whom I've admired, taking shots at VN and his admirers. It must be galling to be a writer of fiction and forever be condemned to be second (at least) to VN, so it's not surprising, but I don't think the Syndrome's been pointed out, so I'd be grateful for examples.
JM: Last week I re-read John Updike's article (TNR, 1964) about the English translation of "The Luzhin Defense," under his enthusiastic title: "Grandmaster Nabokov". I found again his now classic observation: "Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written -- that is, ecstatically." However, he considers that the novel's last chapters reveal Nabokov's youth at the time he wrote it. He thinks there are too many clever tricks and artificial maneuvers.
On my part, I don't agree with part of his crticisism, mainly in relation to Valentinov's re-insertion in the plot, but his (and mine) opinions are personal reactions, not universal truths (or falsehoods).
I enjoyed, in particular, one of his assessments: "Nabokov was thirty, which is the age of Luzhin...Like his hero, the author seems older; few Americans so young could write a novel wherein the autobiographical elements are so cunningly rearranged and transmuted by a fictional design, and the emotional content so obedient to such cruelly ingenious commands, and the characterization so little colored by indignation or the schock of discovery."
I can only vaguely remember what he wrote about TOoL a few years ago, but I know that I share his opinion about the inconveniences related to its posthumous widely publicized edition. Ron Rosembaum's conclamation, under the fascinating diagnostic of a "Nabokov Derangement Syndrome" is, in my eyes, appallingly totalitarian, if he means to imply by it that everyone who dislikes one, or more Nabokov novels would be moved solely by envy - and must be dennounced as a green-eyed deranged monster. I'm not overly fond of every Updike novel but I profit a lot from them because of his style, elegance and the ease with which he observes and moves about America.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/
JM: Last week I re-read John Updike's article (TNR, 1964) about the English translation of "The Luzhin Defense," under his enthusiastic title: "Grandmaster Nabokov". I found again his now classic observation: "Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written -- that is, ecstatically." However, he considers that the novel's last chapters reveal Nabokov's youth at the time he wrote it. He thinks there are too many clever tricks and artificial maneuvers.
On my part, I don't agree with part of his crticisism, mainly in relation to Valentinov's re-insertion in the plot, but his (and mine) opinions are personal reactions, not universal truths (or falsehoods).
I enjoyed, in particular, one of his assessments: "Nabokov was thirty, which is the age of Luzhin...Like his hero, the author seems older; few Americans so young could write a novel wherein the autobiographical elements are so cunningly rearranged and transmuted by a fictional design, and the emotional content so obedient to such cruelly ingenious commands, and the characterization so little colored by indignation or the schock of discovery."
I can only vaguely remember what he wrote about TOoL a few years ago, but I know that I share his opinion about the inconveniences related to its posthumous widely publicized edition. Ron Rosembaum's conclamation, under the fascinating diagnostic of a "Nabokov Derangement Syndrome" is, in my eyes, appallingly totalitarian, if he means to imply by it that everyone who dislikes one, or more Nabokov novels would be moved solely by envy - and must be dennounced as a green-eyed deranged monster. I'm not overly fond of every Updike novel but I profit a lot from them because of his style, elegance and the ease with which he observes and moves about America.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/