Leland: These two references to allegory was made in entirely two different settings. The "ignore allegory" was proposed in an interview, while "detest symbols, etc." was uttered in a thoughtful afterword to Lolita. Context might have every thing to do with the admonition. Just a thought.

From: Leland de la Durantaye <deladur@FAS.HARVARD.EDU>
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 2:40:48 PM
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] VN on allegory?

A few places spring to mind. One is Strong Opinions where he says to "Ignore allegories" (66). The afterword to Lolita has "I detest symbols and allegories." In Brian Boyd's biography there is a letter quoted concerning Invitation where he says something similar (Russian Years, 419). I give a little (incomplete) list of such remarks in Style is Matter (115 ff.).

Best,

Leland

Leland de la Durantaye

Gardner Cowles Associate Professor of English

Department of English

Harvard University

Barker Center

12 Quincy Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

phone: (617) 496 4904

fax: (617) 496 8737

deladur@fas.harvard.edu

On Nov 20, 2008, at 10:17 PM, R S Gwynn wrote:

I recall reading some dismissive remarks that VN made about allegory as a literary mode, but I can't recall where. Does anyone remember where this was? Probably in the Lectures on Literature, but I just can't remember in what context he said these remarks.

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All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.