Subject
Crossword: Alluring girls (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITORIAL NOTE: My thanks to Paul Pascal for this item which is especially
appropriate in that, according to legend, Nabokov introduced the
crossword puzzle into Russian. For these puzzles which he published
in RUL', the Berlin emigre paper co-edited by his father, he coined the
name "krestoslovitsa." The name did not "take" however, and the usual
Russian term is now "krossvord."
I have noticed that Nabokov-related clues
are not uncommon in more sophisticated puzzles. Once I even found the
Russian title DAR (The Gift) as the answer to "A Nabokov novel."
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In the crossword puzzle by Naomi Geller Lipsky in the Sunday New York
Times of July 16, 1995 (magazine section, p. 54), the clue for 128 across
is "Alluring girls." The answer: "Lolitas." The definition is perhaps
somewhat defective, but I suppose a reference, however dubious, in a Times
crossword puzzle does represent a degree of recognition, of a kind that
perhaps VN himself would have appreciated.
Paul Pascal, University of Washington
paulpasc@u.washington.edu
appropriate in that, according to legend, Nabokov introduced the
crossword puzzle into Russian. For these puzzles which he published
in RUL', the Berlin emigre paper co-edited by his father, he coined the
name "krestoslovitsa." The name did not "take" however, and the usual
Russian term is now "krossvord."
I have noticed that Nabokov-related clues
are not uncommon in more sophisticated puzzles. Once I even found the
Russian title DAR (The Gift) as the answer to "A Nabokov novel."
--------------------------------------
In the crossword puzzle by Naomi Geller Lipsky in the Sunday New York
Times of July 16, 1995 (magazine section, p. 54), the clue for 128 across
is "Alluring girls." The answer: "Lolitas." The definition is perhaps
somewhat defective, but I suppose a reference, however dubious, in a Times
crossword puzzle does represent a degree of recognition, of a kind that
perhaps VN himself would have appreciated.
Paul Pascal, University of Washington
paulpasc@u.washington.edu