I would like to thank you for your most interesting research. As you probably know, this is one of several references to arctic exploration in VN's work --  Ada I think had a number of them. I have wondered about the possibility that Rae could be Ray, but never dug into it as you have. The spelling difference reminds me that "Haze" is a homophone for the more likely "Hayes".

I believe Nabokov wrote a play about Scott, but not having read it, I don't know his attitude. The truly groundbreaking research done by Roland Huntford about the Scott & Amundsen rivalry came out after Nabokov's death. If you find out any more I for one would be truly glad to hear of it.

many thanks from

Carolyn Kunin