Cahier Herne Nabokov

 I love this Cahier de L'Herne dedicated at Vladimir

Nabokov: I waited for it impatiently. More than for any other cahiers, here it's possible to read several important topics treated directly by Nabokov. It is good because the Russian perspective is different from any other perspective, remaining profound as the European one is, but with a different touch.

Of course the exhile experienced by Nabokov meant a lot to him: he will be critical regarding the new literature developed during the Communism: a literature characterized by the limited freedom given to the authors. Because of it, russian literature experienced few masterpieces, and could be considered in a "poor phase" of creativity, apart for few example like Pasternack was in terms of poetry (there wasn't a great love for Boris Pasternack's masterpiece Doctor Jivago.) The idea of the strong man was highly taken in consideration.

On Cambridge and comparisons with the other students from the UK and other western countries Nabokov writes that "There is a sort of wall separating us, Russians, from them. Their world is solide like a globe scrupoulusly colored." You can think that there is some jealousy but it's not in this way because, continuing, Nabokov offers another vision: "Their soul is lacking of that inspired tourbillon, that pulsation, that radiance, that frenetic dance, that anger and tenderness that we have imported from that paradises and abysses that we left behind." He continues adding: "Snow is heavy on our shoulders, sea reaches our knees and our soul is free to goes wherever she wants" adding: "For an english student this is not understandable..."

The concept of democracy to Nabokov is not: "Policy, neither laws regulated by politicians. Nothing of that....Democracy is humanity at its best...because it is the natural condition of all men: when the human spirit become conscious of the world surrounding him but mainly himself. Morally, democracy is invincible."

Writings apart, letters and portion of journals by Nabokov are interesting. I found great the ones on Lolita written by Kubrick and his staff with an interesting chapter dedicated to Kubrick and Nabokov and their exchanges of views regarding the realization of the movie.

Then there is an entry on Dmitry, his son, and another one written by Dmitry, and if you want to read some french classics and you don't know where to start, please read the chapter  Notes sur le Roman Francais.

Vladimir appreciated, regarding opera, Boris Godunov, a bit of Carmen and Pelleas and Melisande.

Anna Maria Polidori