http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/02/29/DI2008022903023.html
Michael Dirda
Washington Post Book World Columnist
Wednesday, March 5, 2008; 2:00 PM
Prize-winning critic Michael Dirda took your questions and comments concerning literature, books and the joys of reading.
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Nabokov: What's your view on the question (much discussed on Slate.com) of whether Dmitri Nabokov should follow his father's instructions and burn Vladimir's last manuscript? Me, I'm with the public who would be the poorer if Dmitri doesn't follow the example of those who disobeyed instructions to burn, say, all of Emily Dickinson's or Kafka's writings.
Michael Dirda: I haven't followed this story closely, but what puzzles me is why is it a story. Nabokov has been dead for a long time now--why is this news now? Shouldn't a decision have been made years ago whether to burn The Original of Laura or not.
Nabokov admittedly never liked the public to see him sweat, so like his character Sebastian Knight he tended to destroy rough drafts and false steps. But my view is that if he really wanted to destroy his ms, he could have done it before he died.
My suggestion is this: Give the manuscript to a library or institution and insist on its being sealed for 50 or a hundred years, when all those who might have known Nabokov would be dead.
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