Comments on: Nikolai Gogol by Vladimir Nabokov

By: jenny

jenny — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:29:33 +0000

I believe it is in “The Art of Literature and Commonsense” that Nabokov produces a fine local example of poshlust: a 1950s American magazine ad, featuring a 50s housewife gazing lovingly at the object of her affections: a set of spoons. Nabokov calls it “the adoration of spoons”. Every once in a while, I catch myself adoring “spoons” and I am horrified.

By: nicole

nicole — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:16:25 +0000

That one I’ve got, though I’ve limited myself to reading the passages on novels I’ve read. My little Nabokov quote at the top right comes from the discussion, I believe, of Bleak House (or perhaps just the introduction).

More than once I have been tempted to read books just so I can read essays/lectures on them by people I like; this one, the Russian lectures, and Lawrence’s book on American lit all come to mind in that category.

By: only words to play with

only words to play with — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:27:23 +0000

Hi, again!
I should also mention that there’s a collection of his Lectures on just “regular” literature (by “regular,” I mean “not Russian”). He talks about Dickens, Proust, Austen, Joyce, and Flaubert. I haven’t yet read these, but hope to get to them some day (I thought his Lectures on Russian lit were both incredibly insightful and incredibly hilarious [due their pompous nature!])

By: nicole

nicole — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:08:48 +0000

Hi, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the tip on the essay. I have not (yet) read the lectures, as my knowledge of Russian literature is at this point too patchy to make it seem worthwhile. But as I’ve been filling in some of those holes lately, it’s definitely something I’d like to get to. Now I’m really looking forward to reading him on Dostoyevsky.

By: only words to play with

only words to play with — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:43:50 +0000

Hi, Nicole-

Just found your blog, and I’ve been enjoying perusing your writing. As for poshlost’, there’s an excellent essay by Sergei Davydov that examines Nabokov’s notions of poshlost’ (which of course, as you discuss above, Nabokov examines in Gogol’s writing; I almost envision a poshlost’ palimpsest of sorts). I think the best definition of poshlost’ I’ve come across is “self-satisfied mediocrity”; concerning the examples you cite above, it would be the mediocre/cheap art that everyone reveres as spectacular and meaningful. Gogol, as I’m sure you know, viewed this as the work of the devil.

Have you read Nabokov’s Lectures on Russian Literature? He grades Dostoevsky’s work, and gives him a “C”.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:16:20 +0000

Amateur Reader – Yes, Nabokov is inconsistent. Your point is well made. The comparison ends in horse-trading, Gogol is less consistent than Nabokov; Flaubert is more consistent than Nabokov. I’ve read a few sentences written by Woolf today that both writers would envy.

My tipping point is breached. I have ordered this book.

By: nicole

nicole — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:43:01 +0000

AR right about everything as always. I will just further note a bit of what comes before that quote: “Couleur locale has been responsible for many hasty appreciations, and local color is not a fast color.”

I feel like I should put this stuff up around my house on post-its for personal mental training. “No hasty appreciations!!!”

By: Amateur Reader

Amateur Reader — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:29:54 +0000

The complete set of phrases is crucial here. Don’t pull off “romantic folklore” or “rollicking yarns” as separate concepts. It’s “(r.f. or r.y.) about (lumberjacks or etc.)”. Anyway, the Brothers Grimm and the Prose Edda aren’t poshlust, and aren’t romantic.

Anthony – you don’t find Nabokov inconsistent? What writer is not inconsistent? Don’t fall into the semantic trap, which is part of VN’s point. Although we say we’re “reading Gogol” or whatnot, we’re really reading Dead Souls, and that’s not true, we’re reading a page, no that’s not it, a sentence, a phrase. Mumble, mumble, lyrical wave, mumble. That’s not just Gogol – VN is describing his own books.

Although, on the other hand, to the contrary: take a look at the timeline of Nikolai Gogol, Winter 1836-1837, p. 159.

I’m about to link to this post. Here I go.

By: laura

laura — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:29:33 +0000

I don’t think Nabokov dislikes genuine folklore. Fairy tales, Nordic legend and lore from all languages and literatures are intricately woven into every one of his novels. So what is he referring to? A sort of glorification of “the people” that is in itself a form of poshlust?

By: nicole

nicole — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:48:20 +0000

As does Nabokov! Though he is a bit harsher than I would be.