The same kind of  dissociation  on VN's part as Glen Kenny mentions applied as well to the distinction between literary matters, or even personal innuendo, and genuine human tragedy. I know Father, too, would have been deeply saddened by Zverev's death. As for Charlot, Kenny confirms what I have said: VN despised the man's politics but did appreciate his comic art, and the globe-bouncing scene was, for Nabokov, one of its higlilights. Another was the shoe-eating sequence in The Gold Rush. Father took me to the cinema to watch both and laugh heartily. If Chaplin had bounced the U.S. Congress and munched on the American flag, our reactions would have been different.

 I just saw the post from Stacy [Schiff]. I am very fond of her. One of her many kindnesses was to keep me supplied with interesting books, such as Perfume, during my year's stay in hospital. The last thing I want to do is offend her. Again, my hasty pun was no reflection on her prize. As for the rest,  I call them as I see them, I quote them as I recall them, and my first loyalty is to my parents. The Russian translation remains dreadful. At Stacy's request, Natasha and I have prepared an analysis and shall send it to her.

Best,

Dmitri

-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Klein [mailto:sk@starcapital.net]
Sent: mercredi, 23. juillet 2003 05:55
To: cangrande@bluewin.ch
Subject: Fw: VN and Chaplin redux, sort of


From: D. Barton Johnson [mailto:chtodel@cox.net]
Sent: Tue 7/22/2003 11:45 PM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Cc:
Subject: Fw: VN and Chaplin redux, sort of



        EDNOTE. NABOKV-L thanks Glen Kenny for this item. It shows, inter alia, that VN could and did judge the artistry and political views of the artist as separable issues.
       
       
        ----- Original Message -----
        From: "Kenny, Glenn" <gkenny@hfmus.com>
        To: "D. Barton Johnson (E-mail)" <chtodel@cox.net>
        Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 2:09 PM
        Subject: VN and Chaplin redux, sort of
       
       
         To paraphrase Clint Eastwood's immortal character "Dirty" Harry Callahan, in
         all the recent excitement I'd forgotten that VN lavishes praise on Chaplin's
         "The Gold Rush," "The Circus," and "The Great Dictator" in a 1969 interview
         with Alfred Appel (who else?) reprinted (where else?) in Strong Opinons,
         section 15. See page 163 of the McGraw Hill paperback. After recounting a
         favorite bit from "Dictator," VN concludes, "However, today's Little Man
         appeal has somewhat spoiled Chaplin's attraction for me." Only "somewhat,"
         it turns out!...
       
         And that would pretty much appear to be that.
       
       
         Glenn Kenny