It was one of the literary secrets in English language
that has caused the most curiosity and debate for the last 30 plus
years. The last unfinished novel of a modern classic, written by
Vladimir Nabokov. Before he died, in 1977, he asked his wife, Vera, to
destroy all his unconcluded manuscripts, including the novel he was
writing since 1974 of which he had only completed about 100 pages.
Vera who died in 1991, didn't have the heart to burn his manuscripts and passed the responsibility to their son Dmitri, who tried to be an opera singer then later became a racing car pilot. Now an old man and after years of hesitation, decided not to comply with his father's wish but publish the what would be the last work of the author of the memorable 'Lolita', as it was, unfinished.
Vera who died in 1991, didn't have the heart to burn his manuscripts and passed the responsibility to their son Dmitri, who tried to be an opera singer then later became a racing car pilot. Now an old man and after years of hesitation, decided not to comply with his father's wish but publish the what would be the last work of the author of the memorable 'Lolita', as it was, unfinished.
Dmitri announced his intentions and within 3 monthes, the literary agent Wylie got the right of the incomplete manuscripts. Numerous publishers hastily bid for the book 'blind' - without reading a single page. But Dmitri wished to give priority to the traditional publishing firms his father trusted in, amongst them Knopf in the United States.
The German weekly 'Die Zeit' revealed in 2008, Rowolth will publish it in September of 2009 and offered 4 chapter fragments in advance, from the novel called 'The original of Laura'. According to Dmitri, the text will be published in English. Asked if the decision was for economic rather than literary motivation, he answered, rather ironically:
"Sure, my wheelchair requires very costly modifications so that it can be put inside the car boot of my Maserati Coupe."
With the same irony, he sent mail to a lady friend, in which he told her that the ghost of his father had appeared in his dream, telling him to publish the manuscripts, so as to satisfy the investigators, and earn some money at the same time.
Do the manuscripts have any literary value? They were written in pencil and were conserved in the security box in a Swiss bank. Up to now, only a few people have read them. It seems that the story has a beginning and the ending, leaving a huge gap in the middle.
No doubt there would be another movie here, cashing in on the glory 'Lolita' had achieved and unexpectedly become an all time classic. The answer is obvious then: leave it in the hands of
competent script writers to fill in the gap.
Current Mood: 
Accomplished
Accomplished
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