Browsing MySpace (or, rather, HerSpace) reveals an Iris Acht with 515 friends! She lists her favourite authors as
Nobokov [sic], Camus, Kafka, Sun Tsu, Charles Bukowski, W.Burroughs, Douglas Adams, E.A.Poe, Lautreamont, Heracletus [sic], Oscar Wilde, Andre Bretton [sic], Marcel Proust, Charles Baudelair [sic]
In spite of the misspellings, one might guess that Iris has borrowed her pseudonym from her first choice of writer. However, unlike her forsaken namesake, she seems to be enjoying a fun-packed life with many putative Thurguses, and reading all (well nearly all) the right books! If I were facing a “spot the odd-one out” contest, my guess would be Isadore Ducasse Lautreamont
Clayton: given Nabokov’s love of Joyce’s Ulysses and penchant for linguistic games, there can be little doubt he is reminding astute readers that Ms Acht is close to being Irish, with that typical Paddy’s slur and inevitable echoes of the ill-fated Isolde and her Liebestod.
Seriously and no offence: best wishes in your Pale Fire allusion research. I was unaware of the exciting Iris Acht connections.
Stan Kelly-Bootle.
On 14/01/2010 16:20, "Carolyn Kunin" <chaiselongue@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:
Clayton Smith on Iris Acht... Translated,“acht” would have a meaning akin to the authoritative command, “Pay attention!” Given Nabokov’s knowledge of German and penchant for linguistic games, there can be little doubt that he is telling astute readers in no uncertain terms to look at this passage, and specifically Iris Acht, very carefully."
Dear Mr Smith,
Please don't forget the original Iris Acht - - an unfortunate actress who dies young in a wild novel, the victim of a gray villain.
Carolyn Kunin