Dear Nabokovians,
We are writing to share our new book: Rhyming with Redeemer: A Commentary on Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire. This book began as a pandemic project in 2020, so after several years of working as a two-person team, we are so grateful to share it with a community of dedicated Nabokovians! Alternating between thematic exploration and close reading, our book examines redemption through a commentary on Nabokov’s 1962 novel Pale Fire. It is available as a free pdf attached (which allows a two-page view, which we think is easiest to read), or via Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1waMinzHp__cgeMrIcoLr9LbTBoBnODKN/view?usp=sharing
The odd chapters (1, 3, and 5) attempt to articulate Nabokov’s theory of redemption on a thematic level, reading him in tandem with kindred philosophers such as Judith Shklar and Walter Benjamin. The even chapters (2 and 4) consist of a close reading of Pale Fire, proposing theories that include:
- Charles Kinbote, King Charles, and Jakob Gradus are three identities who inhabit one body
- Charles Kinbote shoots John Shade during an episode as Jakob Gradus
- The Zemblan Revolution is really the Hungarian Revolution of 1956
- The mystery of the crown jewels is unlocked via the story of the Hungarian crown jewels
- Hazel Shade is one of many “serial selves” who comprise the true poet of New Wye
- Charles Kinbote constructed John Shade as a mask to conceal the true poet of New Wye
- By using Hamlet as a map, a sexual relationship and pregnancy between Charles Kinbote and the poet is revealed, as well as a ghostly message from King Alfin to his struggling son
- By wielding the concepts of “serial selves” and “Word Golf,” the poet is revealed to be Misha Gordon
- True events of the poet’s fatal March night come into focus by tracing themes of a car accident and death through the Foreword, Poem, Commentary, and Index
Because we get into a small amount of personal detail, we’re sharing this book anonymously, but if you wish to discuss any of these themes or theories, please feel free to email us at: rhymingwithredeemer@gmail.com.
Thank you!
– M and J