Subject
Re: Auberon Waugh: Book of the Century (fwd)
Date
Body
Auberon Waugh, a celebrated essayist and an almost-celebrated novelist, is
the eldest son of Evelyn Waugh, and one of the most prominent and widely
published members of the London "chattering classes." His remarks on
"Lolita," "shared morality," and the achievement of a "mere novelist" are,
of course, meant ironically, though they are delivered with Waugh's
customary deadpan.
It's a little discomfiting to find so many good Nabokovians --schooled,
presumably, in sniffing out irony, double meaning, and subtext -- sternly
tut-tutting at Waugh as though his remarks were meant to be taken at face
value.
Hoping not to have started a flame war,
Stephen Schiff
-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Barton Johnson <chtodel@humanitas.ucsb.edu>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU <NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU>
Date: Monday, April 05, 1999 7:59 PM
Subject: Re: Book of the Century (fwd)
>EDITOR's NOTE: Auberon Waugh is related to Evelyn. Perhaps son of E.'s
>brother Alec. Not sure. Auberon is a big name in Brit. intellectual
>journalism.
>
>-----------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>From: Marilyn Edelstein <MEdelstein@scu.edu>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (32 lines)
>------------------
>
>Is this "Waugh" any
>relation to novelist Evelyn Waugh? His reference to a "mere novelist" and
>to "shared morality" make me doubt he could be any relation to a real
>novelist (or a real reader).
>
>Marilyn Edelstein, English, Santa Clara
>University medelstein@scu.edu
>----------------------
>Are Forum members aware that some months ago Pale Fire was chosen for the
>London Daily Telegraph's weekly column "Book of the Century" by author
>William Boyd?
>
>On the 3rd April 1999 Auberon Waugh followed up this choice by selecting
>Lolita, for the same slot. The enfant Auberon describes Pale Fire as
>"undoubtedly the more finely written of the two". Its purpose was "to
>ridicule the pretension and egomania of academic criticism", but, because
>Nabokov overestimated the intelligence of his readership, the book failed.
>Not a single English department at any university has been closed down.
>
>The "effect of Lolita, by contrast, has been enormous". It is described as
>about a 37-year-old professor and "a 12-year-old schoolgirl called Dolores
>Haze, who seduces and later deserts him". Now, as a result of this book,
"we
>all agree that paedophilia is wrong. At last we have a common, shared
>morality. This is quite an achievement for a mere novelist".
>
>Waugh also remarks that Lolita "has all the perverse humour, the irony and
>unexpectedness of Nabokov's other masterpieces."
>
>I wonder if Forum members have any comments?
>
>Charles Harrison Wallace
the eldest son of Evelyn Waugh, and one of the most prominent and widely
published members of the London "chattering classes." His remarks on
"Lolita," "shared morality," and the achievement of a "mere novelist" are,
of course, meant ironically, though they are delivered with Waugh's
customary deadpan.
It's a little discomfiting to find so many good Nabokovians --schooled,
presumably, in sniffing out irony, double meaning, and subtext -- sternly
tut-tutting at Waugh as though his remarks were meant to be taken at face
value.
Hoping not to have started a flame war,
Stephen Schiff
-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Barton Johnson <chtodel@humanitas.ucsb.edu>
To: NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU <NABOKV-L@UCSBVM.UCSB.EDU>
Date: Monday, April 05, 1999 7:59 PM
Subject: Re: Book of the Century (fwd)
>EDITOR's NOTE: Auberon Waugh is related to Evelyn. Perhaps son of E.'s
>brother Alec. Not sure. Auberon is a big name in Brit. intellectual
>journalism.
>
>-----------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>From: Marilyn Edelstein <MEdelstein@scu.edu>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (32 lines)
>------------------
>
>Is this "Waugh" any
>relation to novelist Evelyn Waugh? His reference to a "mere novelist" and
>to "shared morality" make me doubt he could be any relation to a real
>novelist (or a real reader).
>
>Marilyn Edelstein, English, Santa Clara
>University medelstein@scu.edu
>----------------------
>Are Forum members aware that some months ago Pale Fire was chosen for the
>London Daily Telegraph's weekly column "Book of the Century" by author
>William Boyd?
>
>On the 3rd April 1999 Auberon Waugh followed up this choice by selecting
>Lolita, for the same slot. The enfant Auberon describes Pale Fire as
>"undoubtedly the more finely written of the two". Its purpose was "to
>ridicule the pretension and egomania of academic criticism", but, because
>Nabokov overestimated the intelligence of his readership, the book failed.
>Not a single English department at any university has been closed down.
>
>The "effect of Lolita, by contrast, has been enormous". It is described as
>about a 37-year-old professor and "a 12-year-old schoolgirl called Dolores
>Haze, who seduces and later deserts him". Now, as a result of this book,
"we
>all agree that paedophilia is wrong. At last we have a common, shared
>morality. This is quite an achievement for a mere novelist".
>
>Waugh also remarks that Lolita "has all the perverse humour, the irony and
>unexpectedness of Nabokov's other masterpieces."
>
>I wonder if Forum members have any comments?
>
>Charles Harrison Wallace