Vladimir Nabokov was one of the most important people in my life for about a year or so, from spring 2006 to spring 2007, even when I wasn' t poring over his novels or relevant criticism or typing and editing and re-editing my undergraduate dissertation, thoughts about him and his work were constantly bubbling away in my mind as I worked my summer job, shopped in the supermarket or did my laundry. I found myself abbreviating his name to 'Nab-a-coffee', something that I found myself doing quite frequently as I slowly pieced my arguments together.
Obviously, I love his writing, and think that he is perhaps the greatest writer of the twentieth century. I can't understand why he is so neglected British academia, apart from the fact that he doesn't fit into convenient critical categories and is rather unfashionable at the moment. But what I want to tell you about is, briefly his life story.
He was born into privilege as the favourite son of an aristocratic Russian family, but no sooner had he inherited millions from an uncle than the Russian Revolution forced his family to flee to Europe with but what they could carry. He struggled to become known as a Russian writer amongst the emigre community in Berlin, supporting himself and his family by teaching languages and boxing. In the early 1920s his father was murdered. Unfortunately, as he gained recognition so the Nazis gained power and he had to flee with his Jewish wife and son, first to Paris, and then (after failing to gain an academic post in Britain) to America. His brother and many friends died in extermination camps.
He had realised in France that there was little future for him in writing Russian, so switched to writing in English. In America, he taught and worked as a butterfly specialist as well as working on the novel that would become Lolita. The family had little money, and lived in a variety of rented apartments. As he was nearing 60, he struggled to find a publisher who would print Lolita, eventually having to settle on a dubious Parisian pornographer, who subsequently embroiled Nabokov is various legal battles about the rights to the book. After, of course, the landmark legal trials establishing that Lolita was not an obscene book and was fit to be published and distributed in Britain and America.
How many of us, no matter how talented, could keep going despite the loss of our homeland, our language, all our family except wife and child, despite the lack of recognition, having to work two jobs to support our family, continual financial uncertainty? Even if you dislike his books, I feel that you have to admire his tenacity!
Posts
I do dislike Nabokov's writing -- always have -- but I agree, you have to hand it to him: the man really knew how to hang on. Thank you for outlining his particular "profile in courage" so thoughtfully,
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a story about his being dismissive of female novelists and some colleague (I think it was at Cornell) saying, "You think no one should take women novelists seriously? Read 'Mansfield Park.'" And Mr. Nabokov did and very graciously conceded his colleague's point.
Well, "there's no enjoyment like reading," after all.
You made me want re-read Nabokov. Is Nabokov considered a Russian writer? Not really, since he wrote in English.
ReplyDeleteI have to blush: I've seen only the movie...Thank you for the interesting text.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed, the generations of the early 20th century had much more difficult life than the younger generations can imaging. The only place that is peace and steady enough is the US. Both world wars and various revolutions did not happen on US mainland. Find any person outside of US who was born in the late 19th century or early 20 century, you will hear an interesting or a very sad story.
ReplyDeleteJust proves there is always more there than meets the eye. This was a very enlightening post and has given me impetus to read Lolita as I've spent way too much time wrangling with my guilt, misinformation and other stupid stuff. Great choice for 'N'--thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Tenacity is a fine characteristic. I'd forgotten much of what you wrote - it would behoove me to return for a re-look.
ReplyDeleteI've never read any Nabokov, and I had no idea that he had so troubled a life.
ReplyDeleteAnd he didn't get published until he was 60? Wow, that gives us all hope!
That's an interesting biography. I read Lolita many years ago (and, as I'm reading "reading Lolita in Tehran" and enjoying it, I may well read Lolita again.) I thought his use of language was spectacular in Lolita, particularly impressive since he wasn't writing in his first language....
ReplyDeleteJay - he was published whilst still in his twenties, at first in the Russian emigre magazines of Berlin. However, he didn't earn enough money to support himself and his family until Lolita became a success. The subject matter and threat of obscenity trials meant that no US publisher would touch it.
ReplyDelete