In order to understand Nabokov's relationship with America, we should look again at his proud declaration that he was "as American as April in Arizona." This remark was not merely rhetorical, despite the artfulness of its alliteration and its apparent allusion to the popular song "April in Paris."
Dear SES,
Hm - - I also "hear" a reference to another popular song here - - from South Pacific's "A Wonderful Guy": I'm as corny as Kansas in August, high as the flag on the Fourth of July....
But the "April in Paris" possibility is interesting too. Did VN perhaps know that "Vernon Duke" who wrote the song* was really a Russian (Vladimir Dukelsky) in American disguise?
Carolyn
*music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by Yip ("Over the Rainbow") Harburg