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Humbert Humbert (fwd)
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From: Andrew Wise <awise@daemen.edu>
To Anyone Interested:
In my research, which is not related to Nabokov, I have come across
information concerning the name Humbert. I wonder if anyone on the list
could provide me with some background on Nabokov's choice of names for
his character.
The Pushkin/Mickiewicz scholar Waclaw Lednicki mentions in his memoirs
that when he was a boy in Moscow he had a governess named Humbert, and
recalls that she was constantly being asked about her relationship to
the "scandalous Humberts." (Apparently, she was not connected to those
persons.) There was in fact a scandal involving some Humberts in France
or Switzerland (the specific country eludes me right now) around the
turn of the century. Some superficial research indicates that the
scandal, which appears to have involved bank fraud, was well-covered in
the Western press. I have not, however, looked for coverage in the
Russian press. Anecdotal evidence from Lednicki's memoirs suggests,
however, that the name "Humbert" was recognized in certain circles in
Russia as one associated with disgrace.
Waclaw Lednicki was born in 1891, some eight years before VVN.
The age difference between the two men is significant, and could
preclude the young Vladimir from having any knowledge of the shame
associated with the name Humbert.
The two families were on familiar terms, however, since both fathers --
Aleksander Lednicki and the senior Nabokov -- were founders and Central
Committee members of the Kadet Party. The Nabokovs lived in St.
Petersburg, of course, and the Lednickis in Moscow, but Waclaw recalls
in his memoirs that the two political colleagues did visit each other's
homes and got along well.
Please excuse the lack of detail; it has been some time since I examined
the materials mentioned. Any clarification on this matter would be
appreciated.
Andrew Kier Wise
Daemen College
awise@daemen.edu
To Anyone Interested:
In my research, which is not related to Nabokov, I have come across
information concerning the name Humbert. I wonder if anyone on the list
could provide me with some background on Nabokov's choice of names for
his character.
The Pushkin/Mickiewicz scholar Waclaw Lednicki mentions in his memoirs
that when he was a boy in Moscow he had a governess named Humbert, and
recalls that she was constantly being asked about her relationship to
the "scandalous Humberts." (Apparently, she was not connected to those
persons.) There was in fact a scandal involving some Humberts in France
or Switzerland (the specific country eludes me right now) around the
turn of the century. Some superficial research indicates that the
scandal, which appears to have involved bank fraud, was well-covered in
the Western press. I have not, however, looked for coverage in the
Russian press. Anecdotal evidence from Lednicki's memoirs suggests,
however, that the name "Humbert" was recognized in certain circles in
Russia as one associated with disgrace.
Waclaw Lednicki was born in 1891, some eight years before VVN.
The age difference between the two men is significant, and could
preclude the young Vladimir from having any knowledge of the shame
associated with the name Humbert.
The two families were on familiar terms, however, since both fathers --
Aleksander Lednicki and the senior Nabokov -- were founders and Central
Committee members of the Kadet Party. The Nabokovs lived in St.
Petersburg, of course, and the Lednickis in Moscow, but Waclaw recalls
in his memoirs that the two political colleagues did visit each other's
homes and got along well.
Please excuse the lack of detail; it has been some time since I examined
the materials mentioned. Any clarification on this matter would be
appreciated.
Andrew Kier Wise
Daemen College
awise@daemen.edu