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Fw: CK replies to JF re Pale Fire Canto IV
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CK replies to JF re Pale Fire Canto IV
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 7:26 PM
Subject: CK replies to JF re Pale Fire Canto IV
Dear Jerry,
First of all, the beautiful writing that follows some of those
> passages strikes me as evidence against disintegration. Even if he
> did have a stroke, though, that wouldn't make me think less of him.
> (And I don't see him as a saint or myself as any kind of Shadean.)
>
> Jerry Friedman
As to Canto IV, I have never come across a poem anything like this. Have you? Even in this day and age, I can't imagine anyone would publish the poem as it stands. Imagine yourself as John Shade's publisher - would you be happy with this poem? Would you publish it as it stands?
Somewhere Nabokov is said to have called Shade "the greatest invented poet" and the italics are Nabokov's. My interpretation: John Shade is not a great poet, he is a great invention.
Carolyn
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 7:26 PM
Subject: CK replies to JF re Pale Fire Canto IV
Dear Jerry,
First of all, the beautiful writing that follows some of those
> passages strikes me as evidence against disintegration. Even if he
> did have a stroke, though, that wouldn't make me think less of him.
> (And I don't see him as a saint or myself as any kind of Shadean.)
>
> Jerry Friedman
As to Canto IV, I have never come across a poem anything like this. Have you? Even in this day and age, I can't imagine anyone would publish the poem as it stands. Imagine yourself as John Shade's publisher - would you be happy with this poem? Would you publish it as it stands?
Somewhere Nabokov is said to have called Shade "the greatest invented poet" and the italics are Nabokov's. My interpretation: John Shade is not a great poet, he is a great invention.
Carolyn