Selected Letters 1940-1977 Vladimir Nabokov (1989) (486p) [Inua].epub

Title: Vladimir Nabokov: Selected Letters 1940-1977
Author: Vladimir Nabokov
Hardcover: 486 pages
Publisher: Harcourt; 1st edition (September 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0151641900
ISBN-13: 978-0151641901

Description:
Vladimir Nabokov's rise from impoverished World War II refugee to literary giant is recorded in this volume of more than 400 letters. Opening with an eloquent introduction by Vladimir's son, Dmitri, the volume is illustrated with more than 40 photographs, facsimiles and butterfly drawings.

Nabokov generally sacrificed most other pursuits to the pursuit of his art. When he did take the time to write letters, the stimuli were family ties, close friendship, and aesthetic, professional, or scientific matters that required the authority of his signature. He replied to critics only when his artistic or personal integrity was questioned. He wrote to newspapers and magazines on those rare occasions when an important matter of fact or of morality needed to be set right. He was moved by the letters of certain fans, but felt he could not sacrifice writing time to embark upon exchanges with them, and only seldom did he find some exceptional quality in a fan letter that caused him to break this rule. Among the most touching letters were those in which the return address had been deliberately omitted to make it clear that neither the author's time nor his signature was being solicited; I recall one in particular, signed "a little Nabokov."