Laurence Hochard ( to JM's
" Is it only an impression of mine, or did Nabokov in
fact reply to some of Alfred Appel's questions with an
affectionate kind of mockery? In his fiction this happened, in a more cruel
vein, with Mr. Goodman, Sebastian Knight's secretary") - "This is
only an aside but I don't think it fair to compare Alfred Appel and Mr Goodman.
this character stands for everything V., Sebastian Knight and VN find
despicable: he is described as an inept critic, envious and self interested.
It's not an affectionate kind of mockery even in a more cruel vein , but an
all-out attack against a certain kind of literary criticism. "
JM: You are right, it may
seem that I was comparing Alfred Appel Jr. and Mr.Goodman in my
message about VN's mocking tone. That would not be fair in relation to Alfred
Appel Jr (his Introduction to The Annotated Lolita is particularly
charming - and efficient). Indeed, it would be unjust, indelicate,
imprecise. Thank you for pointig it out.