Natasha's Dance (145 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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1. The image of Zembla must creep up on the reader very gradually… 4. Nobody knows, nobody
1. The image of Zembla must creep up on the reader very gradually… 4. Nobody knows, nobody
5. Zembla and its characters should remain in a fluid misty condition…
5. Zembla and its characters should remain in a fluid misty condition…
5. Zembla and its characters should remain in a fluid misty condition…
6. We do not even know whether Zembla is pure invention or a kind of lyrical simile of Rus
6. We do not even know whether Zembla is pure invention or a kind of lyrical simile of Rus
6. We do not even know whether Zembla is pure invention or a kind of lyrical simile of Rus
Zemlya
59
In the first of Nabokov’s English-language novels, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (194
In the first of Nabokov’s English-language novels, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (194
In the first of Nabokov’s English-language novels, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (194
The Real Life of Sebastian Knight
European Nights
Nabokov’s switch from writing in Russian to writing in English is a complicated story inti
Nabokov’s switch from writing in Russian to writing in English is a complicated story inti
Nabokov’s switch from writing in Russian to writing in English is a complicated story inti
60
61
Lolita,
abandon my natural idiom, my untrammelled, rich and infinitely docile Russian tongue f
abandon my natural idiom, my untrammelled, rich and infinitely docile Russian tongue f
abandon my natural idiom, my untrammelled, rich and infinitely docile Russian tongue f
62
But even if such claims were a form of affectation, his achievement is undeniable. It i
But even if such claims were a form of affectation, his achievement is undeniable. It i
But even if such claims were a form of affectation, his achievement is undeniable. It i
him’, but he had embraced ‘an English which he then proceeded to wield and bend to his will un
him’, but he had embraced ‘an English which he then proceeded to wield and bend to his will un
him’, but he had embraced ‘an English which he then proceeded to wield and bend to his will un
un manage de raison
manage de raison
63
Until the Revolution destroyed his plans, Nabokov had set out to become the next Pushkin.
Until the Revolution destroyed his plans, Nabokov had set out to become the next Pushkin.
Until the Revolution destroyed his plans, Nabokov had set out to become the next Pushkin.
in vacuo
64
65
The need for an audience was the fundamental motive of Nabokov’s switch. As he himself ex
The need for an audience was the fundamental motive of Nabokov’s switch. As he himself ex
The need for an audience was the fundamental motive of Nabokov’s switch. As he himself ex
66
67
Berlin was a particularly difficult place to live, as thousands of Russians fled the city
Berlin was a particularly difficult place to live, as thousands of Russians fled the city
Berlin was a particularly difficult place to live, as thousands of Russians fled the city
Hitler’s department for emigre affairs. Nabokov searched in desperation for an academ
Hitler’s department for emigre affairs. Nabokov searched in desperation for an academ
Hitler’s department for emigre affairs. Nabokov searched in desperation for an academ
The Real Life of Sebastian Knight,
Nabokov’s passage to New York had been arranged by Alexandra Tolstoy, the novelist’s daug
Nabokov’s passage to New York had been arranged by Alexandra Tolstoy, the novelist’s daug
Nabokov’s passage to New York had been arranged by Alexandra Tolstoy, the novelist’s daug
Novoe russkoe slovo (New Russian Word)
Lolita,
Pnin
68
* Nabokov pere was famous for his finely tailored English suits, which he wore, without
* Nabokov pere was famous for his finely tailored English suits, which he wore, without
* Nabokov pere was famous for his finely tailored English suits, which he wore, without
pere
Na putiakh k svobode
’America is my home now,’ Nabokov said in interviews in 1964. ‘I am an American writer.’69
’America is my home now,’ Nabokov said in interviews in 1964. ‘I am an American writer.’69
’America is my home now,’ Nabokov said in interviews in 1964. ‘I am an American writer.’69
69
Lolita),
70
Lolita
Look at the Harlequins!
71
Pnin
72
Nabokov’s anti-Soviet politics were at the core of his Americanism. He sided with McCarth
Nabokov’s anti-Soviet politics were at the core of his Americanism. He sided with McCarth
Nabokov’s anti-Soviet politics were at the core of his Americanism. He sided with McCarth
I can understand denying one’s principles in one exceptional case: if they told me that tho
I can understand denying one’s principles in one exceptional case: if they told me that tho
I can understand denying one’s principles in one exceptional case: if they told me that tho
one
All that remains is to outline a classification of the emigration. I distinguish fiv
All that remains is to outline a classification of the emigration. I distinguish fiv
All that remains is to outline a classification of the emigration. I distinguish fiv
1. The philistine majority, who dislike the Bolsheviks for taking from them their little
1. The philistine majority, who dislike the Bolsheviks for taking from them their little
1. The philistine majority, who dislike the Bolsheviks for taking from them their little
2. Those who dream of pogroms and a Rumanian Tsar, and now fraternize with the Soviets be
2. Those who dream of pogroms and a Rumanian Tsar, and now fraternize with the Soviets be
2. Those who dream of pogroms and a Rumanian Tsar, and now fraternize with the Soviets be
3. Fools.
3. Fools.
3. Fools.
4. Those who ended up across the border by inertia, vulgarians and careerists who pursue
4. Those who ended up across the border by inertia, vulgarians and careerists who pursue
4. Those who ended up across the border by inertia, vulgarians and careerists who pursue
5. Decent freedom-loving people, the old guard of the Russian intelligentsia, who unsha
5. Decent freedom-loving people, the old guard of the Russian intelligentsia, who unsha
5. Decent freedom-loving people, the old guard of the Russian intelligentsia, who unsha
73
Nabokov placed himself in the final category. In his courses on Russian literature he r
Nabokov placed himself in the final category. In his courses on Russian literature he r
Nabokov placed himself in the final category. In his courses on Russian literature he r
74
Dr Zhivago
Lolita
The Gulag Archipelago
75
* Nabokov was normally dismissive of Akhmatova and of the many female imitators of her
* Nabokov was normally dismissive of Akhmatova and of the many female imitators of her
* Nabokov was normally dismissive of Akhmatova and of the many female imitators of her
Pnin
’I have put on a dark dress And am more modest than a nun; An ivory crucifix Is over my cold be
’I have put on a dark dress And am more modest than a nun; An ivory crucifix Is over my cold be
’I have put on a dark dress And am more modest than a nun; An ivory crucifix Is over my cold be
But the lights of fabulous orgies Burn through my oblivion, And I whisper the name Geor
But the lights of fabulous orgies Burn through my oblivion, And I whisper the name Geor
But the lights of fabulous orgies Burn through my oblivion, And I whisper the name Geor
(V. Nabokov, Pnin (Harmondsworth, 2000), p. 47). Akhmatova was deeply offended by the pa
(V. Nabokov, Pnin (Harmondsworth, 2000), p. 47). Akhmatova was deeply offended by the pa
(V. Nabokov, Pnin (Harmondsworth, 2000), p. 47). Akhmatova was deeply offended by the pa
Pnin
Zapiski
ob Anne Akhmatovoi, 2
there as well (for unlike Pasternak and Solzhenitsyn, Nabokov never won the Nobel Prize).
there as well (for unlike Pasternak and Solzhenitsyn, Nabokov never won the Nobel Prize).
there as well (for unlike Pasternak and Solzhenitsyn, Nabokov never won the Nobel Prize).
In 1965 Nabokov worked on a Russian translation of Lolita. In the afterword to the Engl
In 1965 Nabokov worked on a Russian translation of Lolita. In the afterword to the Engl
In 1965 Nabokov worked on a Russian translation of Lolita. In the afterword to the Engl
Lolita.
Alas, that ‘marvellous Russian language’ that I thought awaited me somewhere, blossomi
Alas, that ‘marvellous Russian language’ that I thought awaited me somewhere, blossomi
Alas, that ‘marvellous Russian language’ that I thought awaited me somewhere, blossomi
76
The Russian language had moved on since Nabokov left his native land, and ‘the baffling m
The Russian language had moved on since Nabokov left his native land, and ‘the baffling m
The Russian language had moved on since Nabokov left his native land, and ‘the baffling m
4
4
4
4
4
When the poet Zinaida Gippius and her husband Dmitry Merezhkov-sky arrived in Paris in 19
When the poet Zinaida Gippius and her husband Dmitry Merezhkov-sky arrived in Paris in 19
When the poet Zinaida Gippius and her husband Dmitry Merezhkov-sky arrived in Paris in 19
77
not so much a ‘Little Russia’ as a microcosm (and continuation) of the extraordinary cul
not so much a ‘Little Russia’ as a microcosm (and continuation) of the extraordinary cul
not so much a ‘Little Russia’ as a microcosm (and continuation) of the extraordinary cul
The effect of the arrival of such emigres was to accentuate two related facets of Russia’
The effect of the arrival of such emigres was to accentuate two related facets of Russia’
The effect of the arrival of such emigres was to accentuate two related facets of Russia’
78
The Rite of Spring
An important aspect of this renewed engagement with the Imperial past was Diaghilev’s
An important aspect of this renewed engagement with the Imperial past was Diaghilev’s
An important aspect of this renewed engagement with the Imperial past was Diaghilev’s
79
saisons russes.
The Sleeping Beauty
Times
Russian as the folk-based culture which before 1914 the Ballets Russes had pedalled to the
Russian as the folk-based culture which before 1914 the Ballets Russes had pedalled to the
Russian as the folk-based culture which before 1914 the Ballets Russes had pedalled to the
Firebird:
The music of Tchaikovsky, which does not seem obviously Russian to everyone, is often mo
The music of Tchaikovsky, which does not seem obviously Russian to everyone, is often mo
The music of Tchaikovsky, which does not seem obviously Russian to everyone, is often mo
80
The second cultural feature of the emigres in Paris was their reassertion of the aristo
The second cultural feature of the emigres in Paris was their reassertion of the aristo
The second cultural feature of the emigres in Paris was their reassertion of the aristo
Reminiscences
81
raffine
* The Russian passports of the emigres were no longer valid after the formation of the So
* The Russian passports of the emigres were no longer valid after the formation of the So
* The Russian passports of the emigres were no longer valid after the formation of the So
Registration Cards, landowners’ sons like Stravinsky and Nabokov resented being treated by
Registration Cards, landowners’ sons like Stravinsky and Nabokov resented being treated by
Registration Cards, landowners’ sons like Stravinsky and Nabokov resented being treated by
82
The Ballets Russes was the centre of Russian cultural life in Paris. It was a sort of Pari
The Ballets Russes was the centre of Russian cultural life in Paris. It was a sort of Pari
The Ballets Russes was the centre of Russian cultural life in Paris. It was a sort of Pari
83
Apollon Musagete
The Ballets Russes of the 1920s was defined by the principles of neoclassicism. In dance
The Ballets Russes of the 1920s was defined by the principles of neoclassicism. In dance
The Ballets Russes of the 1920s was defined by the principles of neoclassicism. In dance
commedia dell’arte Pulci-nella
one-act opera bouffe
Mavra
This re-engagement with the classical tradition was an obvious reaction by the emigres
This re-engagement with the classical tradition was an obvious reaction by the emigres
This re-engagement with the classical tradition was an obvious reaction by the emigres

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