Vladimir Nabokov Papers
The Vladimir Nabokov Papers consists of correspondence, interviews, and articles. Correspondence topics include Vera Nabokov to Peter Russell writing on her husband’s behalf to inquiry on potential Nabokov materials for Russell’s Russian issue of Nine including explanations of varying editions of Lolita in translation and expresses Nabokov’s opinions on translation (i.e., that he no longer believes in rhymed translations but on the literalness alone); Vera Nabokov to Russell thanking him for his letter and translation from Mandelshtam, etc., and reiterating that her husband believes only in absolutely literal prose translations; and Vera Nabokov to Russell announcing that her husband appreciates the spirit with Russell accepted criticism of his translations and wishes him the best in his Russian efforts. Also includes typescript interview with Vladimir Nabokov by Jane Howard, Life magazine. Very heavy typescript and manuscript revision and correction, 7 pages. Also typescript quotations by Nabokov as background material for Life article. Extremely heavy revision and correction, 8 pages. Typscript fact sheet on Nabokov’s current projects and publishing data. Clipping Life Magazine article, "The Master of Versatility -- Vladimir Nabokov: Lolita, Languages, Lepidoptera."
Dates
- Creation: 1958-1964
Creator
- Nabokov, Vladimir, 1869-1922 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open
Conditions Governing Use
Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.
Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.
If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)
Extent
1.00 boxes
0.25 linear feet
Biographical or Historical Information
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was born into a wealthy, landed family on April 23, 1899, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Educated at Cambridge, spending most of the his twenties and thirties in Berlin, Nabokov came to America in 1940. Already the author of a handful of novels written in his native Russian, he struggled to find a publisher for what would become his most famous novel, Lolita. After finally finding a publisher in the Olympia Press in Paris (1955), Nabokov went on to write many other celebrated novels, including Ada, Pnin, and Pale Fire. An accomplished translator in his own right, Nabokov not only translated some of his own Russian-language novels but also Russian classics, like Pushkin and Gogol. He spent the final fifteen years of his life in Switzerland, where he died in 1977.
Method of Acquisition
Accession number 823, purchase from Bertram Rota Ltd, 1967 May 9
Accession number 915. purchase from House of Books, 1968 April 23
Creator
- Nabokov, Vladimir, 1869-1922 (Person)
- Title
- Vladimir Nabokov Papers
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- eng
Revision Statements
- 2020 October 15: Resource record updated in ArchiveSpace by Sarah Schnuriger.
Collecting Area Details
Part of the Manuscripts Collecting Area
Joel Minor
Olin Library, 1 Brookings Drive
MSC 1061-141-B
St. Louis MO 63130 US
(314) 935-5495
spec@wumail.wustl.edu