Subject
Re: Nabokov's Worst Novel (fwd)
Date
Body
From: joseph piercy <j9250308@wlv.ac.uk>
------------------ I have been following with no small measure of
amusement the recent debate (?) concerning Nabokov's worst novel. Mr
Williams contribution cheered me up no end and left me with the distinct
impression that the puerile may yet inheirit the Earth. Of course, this
problem (re: the initial query) is what is often refered to in England as
a pub argument. Drinking establishments across this cold and miserable
little rock are warmed every weekend by heated debates concerning such
matters as "The Greatest Cup Final Goal" or "Which Home County contains
the most notable historical sites" (I kid you not, having once argued the
toss on the latter with an overweight facist from Kent for almost an
hour). Hence, I disagree with those members of the list who have
suggested that "Nabokov's Worst Novel" is an oxymoron. Come on folks !
surely a highly derivative piece of fiction such as "King, Queen, Knave"
'Pales' in comparison to Nabokov's most original 'Fire'. My own opinion
is that "Bend Sinister"- although in it's own right a remarkable piece of
imaginative fiction- stands oddly out of place with the rest of Nabokov's
work and I tend to side with Edmund Wilson regarding the master's
occasionally facetious treatment of totalitarianism. If the novel was
intended as a political satire then it is very weak indeed. Any chance of
a straw poll on Nabokov's Greatest work ?
Regards Joseph Piercy University
Of Wolverhampton United Kingdom
------------------ I have been following with no small measure of
amusement the recent debate (?) concerning Nabokov's worst novel. Mr
Williams contribution cheered me up no end and left me with the distinct
impression that the puerile may yet inheirit the Earth. Of course, this
problem (re: the initial query) is what is often refered to in England as
a pub argument. Drinking establishments across this cold and miserable
little rock are warmed every weekend by heated debates concerning such
matters as "The Greatest Cup Final Goal" or "Which Home County contains
the most notable historical sites" (I kid you not, having once argued the
toss on the latter with an overweight facist from Kent for almost an
hour). Hence, I disagree with those members of the list who have
suggested that "Nabokov's Worst Novel" is an oxymoron. Come on folks !
surely a highly derivative piece of fiction such as "King, Queen, Knave"
'Pales' in comparison to Nabokov's most original 'Fire'. My own opinion
is that "Bend Sinister"- although in it's own right a remarkable piece of
imaginative fiction- stands oddly out of place with the rest of Nabokov's
work and I tend to side with Edmund Wilson regarding the master's
occasionally facetious treatment of totalitarianism. If the novel was
intended as a political satire then it is very weak indeed. Any chance of
a straw poll on Nabokov's Greatest work ?
Regards Joseph Piercy University
Of Wolverhampton United Kingdom