Subject
Fwd: Ada & multiple birthdays
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Dear Priscilla,
Many thanks! There is some clarity now. So Russians, pre-revolutionary ones,
do have multiple birthdays. The date of birth does not change of course, but
the celebration does. It seems that the New Style dates are less important
than the Old Style - - in other words the Nabokovs continued to honor the
Old Style birthday. And of course the saints day celebration adds another
twist.
All of that does support Boyd's interpretation of the importance of Shade's
being "shot" (or not) on July 21. But it brings me back to the problem I
started with. Why does Ada share the July 21 birthdate?
Alexey's interpretation is that this is a tribute to his father's spirit for
inspiring the "beautiful dream of Antiterra." I suppose that is a
possibility, but I am not convinced. Antiterra is far from a beautiful dream
for a start. The supreme rationality and civility that defined his father's
life don't find any reflection in the novel that I can see except in total
absence. Maybe that's it?
As the date approaches (next thursday) perhaps someone will come up with
something better?
Carolyn
----- End forwarded message -----
Many thanks! There is some clarity now. So Russians, pre-revolutionary ones,
do have multiple birthdays. The date of birth does not change of course, but
the celebration does. It seems that the New Style dates are less important
than the Old Style - - in other words the Nabokovs continued to honor the
Old Style birthday. And of course the saints day celebration adds another
twist.
All of that does support Boyd's interpretation of the importance of Shade's
being "shot" (or not) on July 21. But it brings me back to the problem I
started with. Why does Ada share the July 21 birthdate?
Alexey's interpretation is that this is a tribute to his father's spirit for
inspiring the "beautiful dream of Antiterra." I suppose that is a
possibility, but I am not convinced. Antiterra is far from a beautiful dream
for a start. The supreme rationality and civility that defined his father's
life don't find any reflection in the novel that I can see except in total
absence. Maybe that's it?
As the date approaches (next thursday) perhaps someone will come up with
something better?
Carolyn
----- End forwarded message -----