Books
Lectures on Literature
By Vladimir Nabokov
Harcourt Brace, $19.95
“All satisfied with their seats?
OK. No talking, no smoking, no
knitting, no newspaper reading,
no sleeping, and for God's sake
take notes.”
This, John Updike tells us in
the introduction to Lectures on
Literature, was the way in which
Vladimir Nabokov began every
course he taught at Cornell
during the late 40s and early
50s. Anyone wishing to take on
this collection of his classroom
lectures would do well do take
heed.
A book to curl up with as the
stereo blares and the rain goes
pitter-patter on the roof, this
ain't. You can't really get
around the fact that when all is
said and done, the author of
Lolita and Pale Fire was also a
professor of literature. And you
know what they’re like.
On the other hand, Lectures
on Literature is probably easier
to take bound between covers
than it would be coming through
a large hall filled with note-tak
ing adolescents sullenly
slumped in chairs.
For those who care about
such things, the book is beau
tifully bound, printed on expen
sive paper with wide margins.
Beauty doesn’t come free, of
course, and the price hits
Nixon-memoir levels at $19.95.
While everyone can ap
preciate the texture of the book,
the content is something else
again. It’s difficult to imagine
anyone walking away from it
without a feeling of respect for
both author and editor, but it’s
also difficult to imagine any
amateur lover of literature really
relaxing with it.
In the end, the twilight zone
r
feeling of an impending pop
quiz is too pronounced.
The chapters consist of
reconstructed lectures on Jane
Austen, Charles Dickens, Gus
tave Flaubert, James Joyce,
Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust and
Robert Louis Stevenson. The
editing by Fredson Bowers, who
was assisted by Nabokov's
widow, is masterful. None of the
lectures were preserved in final
form — some had to be recon
structed from little more than
the memories of students and
some scribbled notes, while
other passages were already in
the form of typed transcripts.
Taken all together, the lec
tures are a bit overwhelming. It’s
quite possible that most
readers, particuarly the under
graduate sort, will emerge more
impressed than they are in
formed.
It becomes apparent that for
Nabokov, literature meant more
than diversion or edification —
for him, it meant immersion in a
world created by the writer, a
world separate from real life, but
to be taken nearly as seriously.
In keeping with this view of
the author as world-creator, the
chapter on Dickens’ Bleak
House turns out to be among
the most readable.
With Dickens, Nabokov con
centrates on the way the
novelist builds a structure of
interlocking themes. There is,
however, also an overriding
concern with matters of style.
It's interesting to note that in
spite of Nabokov’s Russian
background and the fact that he
was often working with transla
tion, there is still an overriding
concern with matters of style.
The rhythm and patterns of
speech are appreciated, as is
the use of metaphor and crafted
phrasing.
Staffbox, Thursday Revue Deadline is a week prior to publication: please put all info in
my WOODEN STAFF BOX next to the bulletin board. Thanks to a patient production staff
who got through all the hoops, and to Kirk Knighton, still sulking and nursing his bottle of
maple syrup one last note: thanks also, Jimi at the Truckstop for the surprise
Take Your Valentine to the
HAPPIEST
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PRESERVATION HALL
JAZZ BAND
Friday, February 13 8 PM
South Eugene High Auditorium
$12 Reserved $9 General Admission
$6 Child (6-16) General Admission
Tickets on sale at EUMA office, 1 IS W. 7th Avenue
For more information call 484-7242
Sponsored bx the
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“The subject may be crude
and repulsive," says Nabokov of
Madame Bovary. "Its expres
sion is artistically modulated
and balanced. This is style. This
is art. This is the only thing that
r
really matters in books."
Style and art were inherent in
Nabokov’s works. Both are pre
sent in Lectures on
LiteratureM's possible that if
Nabokov had been around to do
the final editing on this posth
umous collection, both would
have achieved more of a con
clusive triumph over classroom
dryness.
By Mike Rust
7
It isn’t
everyday
somebody
asks your
opinion...
and then
listens
During this month. Lane Transit District is holding a
series of public workshops . . . The purpose of these
workshops is simple: We'd like to hear your ideas for
making bus service in Eugene-Springfield even better
than it is today . . . It's an opportunity to work with LTD:
and to make the bus system work for you.
This is an open invitation . . . everybody is welcome.
Bring your family ... or a friend. And let's work
together for an effective mass transit program in
Eugene-Springfield.
Northeast Eugene Sector
Date: 2/10/81 Place: Campbell Center, 155 High Street.
Time: 12:30-2:30 pm
Date: 2/11/81 Place: Cal Young Junior High Cafeteria,
2555 Gilham Road. Time: 7-9 pm
Thurston Sector
Date: 2/26/81 Place: Thurston Middle School, 6300
Thurston Rd. Time: 3-5 pm
Date: 2/26/81 Place: Thurston High School, 333 N. 58th.
Time: 7-9 pm
Southeast Eugene Sector
Date: 2/19/81 Place: Amazon Community Center, 2700
Hilyard. Time: 1-3 pm
Date: 2/19/81 Place: Roosevelt Junior High Library, 24th
8c Hilyard. Time: 7-9 pm
Bethel/Danebo Sector
Date: 2/25/81 Place: Petersen Park Barn, 870 Bertzen.
Time: 1-3 pm
Date: 2/25/81 Place: Petersen Park Barn, 870 Bertzen.
Time: 7:30-9:30 pm
Springfield Sector
Date: 2/11/81 Place: Farwest Federal, 1570 Mohawk.
Time: 7-9 pm
Date: 2/12/81 Place: Willamalane Senior Center, "C" 8c
Water. Time: 1:30-3:30 pm
Southwest Eugene Sector
Date: 2/18/81 Place: Eugene Public Library, 13th 8c
Olive. Time: 1-3 pm
Date: 2/18/81 Place: Eugene Public Library, 13th 8c
Olive. Time: 7-9 pm
Take it easy...
take the bus.
For information call 687-5555
LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT
Pocket schedules, tokens and passes are available at LTD
Customer Service at 10th 8c Willamette, participating
7-Eleven® Food Stores, and other area outlets.