Don Quixote

[Scott Badger]

Malignd:
> ...  Ironically, Nabokov points out ...>>
>
> Redundant, this last, when speaking of VN.
>
> And undoubtedly ironic in the first paragraph also, in
> that, asked once about alleged cruelty in his own
> work--I think, specifically, Laughter in the Dark--VN
> responded [more or less] that such an observation was
> mad, as his characters were nonexistent, words on a
> page.

In general, and within my limited exposure to VN, Malignd's comments seem on
the mark...but, Nabokov's tone in _LonDQ_, when talking about cruelty, comes
across as one simply offended -- much like Quail's reaction...I think he
even uses a term similar to "medieval mind-set"...

As I said before, Nabokov's opinion of _DQ_ is hard to pin down, though he
does allow the Quixotic character, if not the book, modern significance. For
my part, I loved _DQ_ (but then my daughters just turned me on to the
Stooges...). I would agree that the cruelty is more an exposure of than an
endorsement, but I wouldn't contest that the book is likely a mixed bag of
genius and base, tho' profitable, entertainment.

Scott Badger