... VN considered Gogol's  prose as "four-dimensional, at least. He may be compared to his contemporary, the mathematician Lobachevsky ..." (  a biography of  Nikolai Gogol by Vladimir Nabokov, New Directions Paperbook,l961 (page 145).
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Jansy: an intriguing and understandable reference! But slightly misleading! Lobachevsky and Bolyai certainly "[co-]invented" Non-Euclidean Geometry independently**, but not in the 4-dimensional sense apparently implied by VN. Initially, Bolyai-Lobachevski Geometry simply described TWO-dimensional spaces that follow all of Euclid's axioms & postulates EXCEPT ONE (namely the Fifth postulate concerning the existence of parallel lines in 2-dimensions). By modifying this postulate, you can arrive at flat (Euclidean) or curved (elliptic or hyperbolic, Non-Euclidean) spaces. B-L geometries can be extended to higher dimensions, BUT SO CAN EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRIES! One must avoid confusing the concepts of dimension and euclideanism!! VN had in mind, I suppose, the emerging Theory of General Relativity with its 4-dimensional locally-flat but globally-curved space-time, since this was, in fact, the first practical and stunning application of B-L geometries to the real world, but unknown to Bolyai or Lobachevsky at the time. The impact of B-L on the history of science has been compared to that of Darwin! It is said that Gauss pre-empted B-L but hid his work -- he could not face the drastic theological/epistemological impact of denying the apodeictic "certainties" of Euclidean geometry!

Sorry to make a meal of this, but my ongoing preoccupation is delving into VN's knowledge and mastery of mathematical ideas as opposed to his firm grip on matters biological/taxonomic.

** Rumours of L plagiarizing B and vice-versa are now generally discounted. YET, many listers will know mathematician Tom Lehrer's parody:

"Who deserves the credit, who deserves the fame
Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name ..." [Hoy!]

"Plagiarize! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!
Remember why the Good Lord made your eyes,
Don't shade your eyes, but plagiarize! Plagiarize! Plagiarize!
[spoken] Only be sure always to call it, please, 'research'!"

skb

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