 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
24.242.112.141
In Reply to: I really have no idea why film makers bother with that mediocre work... posted by Victor Khomenko on April 1, 2005 at 08:40:16:
By one of those quirks of timing, both Nabakov and Pasternak had books at the top of the bestseller lists in 1957: Nabakov's "Lolita" and Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago." Boyd's biography "Vladimir Nabakov: The American Years" discusses how it vexed Nabakov to no end that Pasternak's work had better reviews and higher sales. He would stand around and read passages aloud in both Russian and English to demonstrate that not only was Pasternak's original prose awful, but that the English translation only added to the sludge! Nabakov also felt that Pasternak's poetry was amazing, and thought it sad that the great writer was being so highly acclaimed for his what could very well be his worst work.Time of course has altered our perceptions: "Lolita" is taught in colleges and universities everywhere, it can be found in most any bookstore. I doubt we shall ever see a book titled "Reading Doctor Zhivago in Iran."
Follow Ups:
whose work has been turned into a far better movie (Lolita).
Nabokov's prose reads like highest poetry, he is a true master. But the notoriety of the Pasternak's work trascended its quality.Some people joked that they wished the KGB confiscated every comy of that dreaded work.
It does, however, contains some of the most beautiful poetry... those pages should be kept alive.
But I discussed this with my wife today - who would gladly give me in exchange for yet another Pasternak book - and she keeps cringing at the name "Lara". To a good Russian ear that name sounds so pathetically philistine (this is Nabokov's favorite word, BTW), it is impossible to understand how the master decided to use it.
I suspect given Nabokov's impeccable taste, it was things like that that really sent him ballistic.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
