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Re: Rejection letters (part of) Lolita
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Very interesting, Darling. Girodias of course took up the rejected orphan, and
was rewarded with venomous outrage by the ingrate, VN. Well, he did it to Wilson
too, didn't he? So, nobody's perfect - what else is new?
Carolyn
She is calling Nabokov 'Darling'? hmm.
________________________________
From: Jansy <jansy@AETERN.US>
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Tue, April 30, 2013 12:54:54 PM
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Rejection letters (part of) Lolita
The novel that later went on to sell 50 million copies and become a timeless,
esteemed classic first had to endure numerous rejections from publishing houses,
including this one written by Mrs. Blanche Knopf herself. [ ]
Blanche Knopf’s 1956 rejection letter, from the Knopf archives, reads:
Darling,
This office has taken a long time to say no to Nabokov’s Lolitawhich you and I
both know was impossible at least for us. Do you want the books back? I don’t
imagine so in which case we will keep it for our blank department. But let me
know. I wonder if any publisher will buy it.
Will you please tell Renée that I had her charming letter. I have no news
except that the Coco is holding his own. As soon as I know more, I will write.
But it was enchanting of her to send me a line, and I am very grateful. We have
all been upset about this affair.
Bless. And all the best.
As always,
Mrs. W.A. Bradley
18 Quai de Bethune
Paris 4, FRANCE
http://flavorwire.com/232203/famous-authors-harshest-rejection-letters/5
Google Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"
Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options Visit AdaOnline
View NSJ Ada Annotations Temporary L-Soft Search the archive
All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/
was rewarded with venomous outrage by the ingrate, VN. Well, he did it to Wilson
too, didn't he? So, nobody's perfect - what else is new?
Carolyn
She is calling Nabokov 'Darling'? hmm.
________________________________
From: Jansy <jansy@AETERN.US>
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Tue, April 30, 2013 12:54:54 PM
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Rejection letters (part of) Lolita
The novel that later went on to sell 50 million copies and become a timeless,
esteemed classic first had to endure numerous rejections from publishing houses,
including this one written by Mrs. Blanche Knopf herself. [ ]
Blanche Knopf’s 1956 rejection letter, from the Knopf archives, reads:
Darling,
This office has taken a long time to say no to Nabokov’s Lolitawhich you and I
both know was impossible at least for us. Do you want the books back? I don’t
imagine so in which case we will keep it for our blank department. But let me
know. I wonder if any publisher will buy it.
Will you please tell Renée that I had her charming letter. I have no news
except that the Coco is holding his own. As soon as I know more, I will write.
But it was enchanting of her to send me a line, and I am very grateful. We have
all been upset about this affair.
Bless. And all the best.
As always,
Mrs. W.A. Bradley
18 Quai de Bethune
Paris 4, FRANCE
http://flavorwire.com/232203/famous-authors-harshest-rejection-letters/5
Google Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"
Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options Visit AdaOnline
View NSJ Ada Annotations Temporary L-Soft Search the archive
All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/