This is Christine Rydel. The project has been 90% finished
for years and is keyed to the original
editions of the translations of Nabokov's fiction. The project stalled
because
of the computer system my former husband used when computers were not
as sophisticated
as they are now. Someone at my institution did convert most of the
files into
something readable and usable. I can get computer assistance from my
school,
but the other factors that stalled the project include a heavy teaching
schedule (about 21-24 hours in the classroom per week!), defending a
Russian
Studies Program against short-sighted administrators, mentoring about
30-35
majors, and some serious health problems (now mostly resolved). I am
looking
forward to completing the book after my last teaching year (2010-11)
when I
shall retire (chair & deans are pushing me out, probably to save
money and
finally eliminate the program).
Another factor that has delayed the book was my decision to
include the Russian pagination of all of the fiction--a task that needs
an
assistant. However, if everyone thinks that the "Who's Who" would
still be an important contribution if I limited all of the entries to
the first
edition translations, then I think that the book would see the light of
day sooner.
The book is divided into several categories: Proper names of
characters, all character types with subheadings like Nurses; Nurses,
fat;
Nurses sympathetic, etc; Proper names of all geographical places;
Proper names
of objects like automobiles, bicycles, etc.; Proper names of places
like
stores, libraries; titles of books, essays, etc.--real and fictional;
art
works; pieces of music, and so on. I guess if it has a name, it becomes
an
entry. All of these entries are finished and need to be alphabetized
and the combined
entries edited. At one point Don Johnson thought that perhaps I should
include
Speak, Memory, maybe in an appendix. I am open to that idea.
I do have an old contract with Overlook Press, that took
over the publication from Ardis. I think that they might still want to
publish
the book. I also thought that an accompanying computer disk (not sold
separately) would also be useful. As soon as I finish the project (book
and
disk), I'll approach Overlook again to get
a final word from them.
I also thought that this list, and the Nabokov journals
might be a place to supplement my work. At those places interested
parties
could add the Russian pages for the fiction and point out any errors in
pagination, omissions, etc. I am
gratified that someone has voiced an interest in the book because I
thought
that because many people are composing concordances, perhaps my work
would not
be of any value any more.
I hope that this short update answers any questions about
the book. Thank you again for your interest.
Christine Rydel
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