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VN novels as "tomorrow's classics" (fwd)
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From: Earl Sampson <esampson@cu.campus.mci.net>
Under the heading "Modern Masterpieces. English Professors Predict
Tomorrow's Classics," the Sunday "Books" section of the local paper
published the results of a survey in which five English professors from
various Colorado universities were asked to name books from the last half
century, roughly, that they believe are most likely to become classics. The
resulting list of 26 books included LOLITA and PALE FIRE. The only other
author to place two books on the list was Walker Percy (LANCELOT and THE
LAST GENTLEMAN). Each title was accompanied by a brief comment by the
panelist (or one of the panelists) who chose it. For LOLITA: "A disturbing
love story and a sendup of American culture, this book is also one of the
most artful, poetic novels ever written." For PALE FIRE (by a different
panelist): "For its brilliance in every way imaginable, full of delicious
ironies entirely appropriate to a writer who had to share his death with
Elvis."
(The additional irony, of course, being that Elvis got his stamp.)
Under the heading "Modern Masterpieces. English Professors Predict
Tomorrow's Classics," the Sunday "Books" section of the local paper
published the results of a survey in which five English professors from
various Colorado universities were asked to name books from the last half
century, roughly, that they believe are most likely to become classics. The
resulting list of 26 books included LOLITA and PALE FIRE. The only other
author to place two books on the list was Walker Percy (LANCELOT and THE
LAST GENTLEMAN). Each title was accompanied by a brief comment by the
panelist (or one of the panelists) who chose it. For LOLITA: "A disturbing
love story and a sendup of American culture, this book is also one of the
most artful, poetic novels ever written." For PALE FIRE (by a different
panelist): "For its brilliance in every way imaginable, full of delicious
ironies entirely appropriate to a writer who had to share his death with
Elvis."
(The additional irony, of course, being that Elvis got his stamp.)