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Re: VN and Vian: a query
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Alexey: All of us bright young Brit Commies in the 50s knew of Boris Vian
mainly (solely?) through his then-popular, anti-war, draft-burning song, Le
Déserteur. At least two English versions of this song circulated during the
Folk Revival and anti-Vietnam, anti-draft protests, one by Leon Rosselson
(quod googlet.) Vian was prolific in many genres, including Jazz criticism.
Reading reports of Vian¹s Nabokovian wordplay a few years ago, I tried to
order his surreal novel L'Écume des jours (1947) as listed on amazon at that
time. After unusual delays, I was told it was no longer available from them
in either French or English. You¹ve reminded me to try again. Merci! What
might excite you link-wise is that one English translation his novel is
titled Mood Indigo, Foam of the Daze which rhymes with Home of the Haze.
Spooky.
My best guess, close to certainty, judging from Nabokov¹s views on Marxism,
Sartre and Vietnam, is that would soon form strong negative opinions in the
likely event that he did happen to read Vian or (almost certain) read of
him. The anagrammatic coincidence you offer is unlikely to play a plausible
role in resolving these factual probabilities.
Stan Kelly-Bootle.
PS: Arshavin continues to flourish at Arsenal FC.
On 10/03/2010 11:31, "Alexey Sklyarenko" <skylark05@MAIL.RU> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> Does any of you know if Nabokov, who is believed to have read everything, ever
> read Boris Vian, a French writer (1920-59)? I'm asking because Vian = Ivan
> (vain, vina, niva...).
>
> Alexey Sklyarenko
>
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mainly (solely?) through his then-popular, anti-war, draft-burning song, Le
Déserteur. At least two English versions of this song circulated during the
Folk Revival and anti-Vietnam, anti-draft protests, one by Leon Rosselson
(quod googlet.) Vian was prolific in many genres, including Jazz criticism.
Reading reports of Vian¹s Nabokovian wordplay a few years ago, I tried to
order his surreal novel L'Écume des jours (1947) as listed on amazon at that
time. After unusual delays, I was told it was no longer available from them
in either French or English. You¹ve reminded me to try again. Merci! What
might excite you link-wise is that one English translation his novel is
titled Mood Indigo, Foam of the Daze which rhymes with Home of the Haze.
Spooky.
My best guess, close to certainty, judging from Nabokov¹s views on Marxism,
Sartre and Vietnam, is that would soon form strong negative opinions in the
likely event that he did happen to read Vian or (almost certain) read of
him. The anagrammatic coincidence you offer is unlikely to play a plausible
role in resolving these factual probabilities.
Stan Kelly-Bootle.
PS: Arshavin continues to flourish at Arsenal FC.
On 10/03/2010 11:31, "Alexey Sklyarenko" <skylark05@MAIL.RU> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> Does any of you know if Nabokov, who is believed to have read everything, ever
> read Boris Vian, a French writer (1920-59)? I'm asking because Vian = Ivan
> (vain, vina, niva...).
>
> Alexey Sklyarenko
>
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/