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To the List,
After all the brouhaha lately regarding the Nemser article I read it
and find it flawless. Although Alexey and I disagree on this point,
Nabokov was not without fault and his inability to translate Evgeny
Onegin is his greatest failure. The notes and index are among his
triumphs, but the translation itself is a dud.
As to the appropriateness of the title, I'd like to remind all the
horror-stricken that Nabokov invented Van the Impaler and the obscene
images he created in Ada are far worse than Nemser's or the editors'
of The New Republic. Personally I'm not sure Nabokov wouldn't be a bit
pleased - - but who knows.
I do wish that the idolatry of Nabokov would take a rest so that a
reasoned appraisal could begin - - at least on this List.
Carolyn Kunin