I'm not familiar with criticism
about Pnin and apologize, if it has been pointed out
before.
Timofey Pnin, the hero of Nabokov's Pnin,
is a son of Dr. Pavel Pnin. His name-and-patronymic is Timofey Palych
(colloquial form of "Pavlovich"). The Russian name Timofey corresponds
to English Timothy and Pavel, to Paul. Timothy is a disciple and
companion of the apostle Paul, to whom Paul is supposed to have addressed two
Epistles (they are among the books of the New Testament).
I believe we have already discussed Pnin's
family name. Let me repeat, briefly: there was a poet I. P. Pnin
(1773-1805), illegitimate son of N. V. Repnin (general and diplomat at the
court of Katherine II). Dr. Olga Repnin is one of the books by the
narrator in VN's Look at the Harlequins!
The real Pnin is remembered mainly thanks to
Batyushkov's poem Na smert' Pnina (On Pnin's Death,
1805). Batyushkov's name comes from batyushka, "father" (also as
mode of address to priests).
Alexey Sklyarenko