Vladimir Nabokov Vladimir Nabokov Bergsonian and Russian Formalist Influences in His Novels Michael Glynn palgrave macmillan VLADIMIRNABOKOV Copyright © Michael Glynn, 2007. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2007 978-1-4039-7985-8 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. “Excerpts from the works of Vladimir Nabokov by arrangement with the Estate of Vladimir Nabokov. All rights reserved.” Excerpts from Viktor Shklovsky’s Theory of Prose by arrangement with Dalkey Archive Press. Excerpts from Alexander Blok’s Do You Remember? and She Came In From the Frost by arrangement with Carcanet Press First published in 2007 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-73844-1 ISBN 978-1-137-10907-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-10907-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Glynn, Michael. Vladimir Nabokov : Bergsonian and Russian Formalist influences in his novels / Michael Glynn. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich, 1899–1977––Criticism and interpretation. 2. Formalism (Literary analysis) 3. Bergson, Henri, 1859–1941––Influence. I. Title. PG3476.N3Z669 2007 813(cid:2).54––dc22 2007009639 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: November 2007 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Transferred to Digital Printing in 2012 For Carolyn, Rachel, and Jenny C O N T E N T S Vladimir Nabokov Chronology, 1899–1977 ix Introduction 1 Part 1 The Problem of Seeing One Nabokov as Anti-Symbolist 7 Two Nabokov and Russian Formalism 23 Three Nabokov and Bergson 53 Part 2 Deluded Minds, Deluded Worlds Four Pale Fire 81 Five Lolita 99 Six Despair 117 Seven Deluded Worlds—King, Queen, Knave, Invitation to a Beheading, and Bend Sinister 127 Eight The Ethics of Delusion 155 Notes 163 Select Bibliography 179 Index 197 V L A D I M I R N A B O K O V C H R O N O L O G Y , 1 8 9 9 – 1 9 7 7 April 23, 1899 Born St. Petersburg 1911–1917 Attends Tenishev School Autumn 1916 Inherits Rozhdestveno estate from Uncle Vasily November 1917 Nabokov family flee St. Petersburg for Gaspra in Crimea November 1917– With family in Crimea April 1919 April 2, 1919 Nabokov and family flee Russia May 1919 Nabokov and family arrive in Southampton via Greece October 1919– Studies French and Russian Literature June 1922 at Trinity College, Cambridge March 1922 Father shot dead in Berlin by Russian Fascists June 1922 Graduates from Cambridge and rejoins family in Berlin May 8, 1923 Meets future wife, Vera Slonim 1923 Writes Tragedy of Mister Morn (n.p.) April 15, 1925 Marries Vera at Berlin Town Hall November 1925 Completes Mary (pub. 1926; pub. in English 1970) June 1928 Completes King, Queen, Knave (pub. October 1928; pub. in English 1968) August 1929 Completes The Defence(pub. Serially in Russian quarterly Sovremennye Zapiski; pub. in book form 1930; pub. in English 1964)