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Archives at Cornell

Box 1

 Container

Contains 67 Results:

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov (1), with enclosed copy of TL sent to Mr. M. Girodias (2), March 5, 1957 ., March 5, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 36
Scope and Contents (1) Written from Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca NY, in French, explaining that he has refused Girodias' offer to litigate on behalf of Lolita, and then moving on to treat the publication of all his works in French, which he thinks should take place now, at this most favorable time. Complains that his most successful novels, aesthetically speaking, Lolita, Bend Sinister and Invitation, have...
Dates: March 5, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, March 24, 1957 ., March 24, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 37
Scope and Contents Written from Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca NY, mostly in English save for French salutations, wondering why he and E. have not pulled his books from Table Rond, which appears to be in trouble, and puzzling over the old problem of translation. Refers to Girodias' request that he reconsider his decision to avoid litigation over Lolita, and explains that he will not do so until Girodias agrees to amend their contract. Explains that two American publishers are interested...
Dates: March 24, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, April 16, 1957 ., April 16, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 38
Scope and Contents

Written from Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca NY, in French, expressing extreme annoyance with Girodias, particularly since the latter's actions may have a serious negative impact upon VN, and wondering that G. has the nerve to demand a reduction in VN's royalties. Refuses to countenance Eric Kahane (G.'s brother) as French translator for Lolita, since this would confirm to journalists VN's close association with Olympia.

Dates: April 16, 1957

TL to Mr. M. Girodias from Vladimir Nabokov, April 17, 1957 ., April 17, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 39
Scope and Contents Written from Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca NY, in English, expressing amazement that Girodias is negotiating Lolita with an American publisher, and insisting on Doubleday's right to take or reject Lolita. Hopes that L'affaire Lolita has not been held up by customs, as he has not yet received yet, and concludes by asserting that rather than VN having been the one not to answer G.'s letter...
Dates: April 17, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, April 25, 1957 ., April 25, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 40
Scope and Contents Not addressed, in French. VN is torn between deep gratitude to Olympia for having presented L'affaire Lolita in a brilliant fashion, and impotent rage at the blunders and ridiculous malapropisms of the translation. Includes corrections for the translation errors he finds in his article on Lolita and the novel itself, and exclaims that he has "had it up to here" with these mutilations. VN wishes to...
Dates: April 25, 1957

TL to Monsieur Gallimard from Vladimir Nabokov, May 7, 1957 ., May 7, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 41
Scope and Contents

In French, expressing delight that it is Gallimard that will publish Lolita, and worry about the question of a translator for Lolita. VN suggests Michel Chrestien, but asserts that given the number of allusions in Lolita. to American customs etc. that a non-American or even a non-native English speaker could not be expected to know, VN must be given the translation to check.

Dates: May 7, 1957

TL to Mr. M. Girodias from Vladimir Nabokov, May 14, 1957 ., May 14, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 42
Scope and Contents Not addressed, in English. VN outlines reasons why G. cannot possibly want to publish Lolita in the US under his own imprint, or find a second-rate publisher for the novel, including the preponderance of moral institutions in the US prepared to take a text like Lolita to court and the cost of defending such a text in court. VN points out a few of the translation errors in L'affaire ...
Dates: May 14, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, May 14, 1957 ., May 14, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 43
Scope and Contents Not addressed, half in French, half in English, expressing annoyance once more that Girodias not only seems bent on finding a "firm of secondary importance" with whom to place Lolita, but also agrees not to do this in conversation with Ergaz. Reiterates reasons why a second-rate publisher will not do, and outlines a course of action to ensure that his rights (and preferably G.'s) are protected, and that Lolita is published by an...
Dates: May 14, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, May 17, 1957 ., May 17, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 44
Scope and Contents

Writing from Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca NY, in French, VN is amazed to hear from Gallimard that they have signed a contract with Kahane to do the translation of Lolita. He cannot believe that Ergaz should not have attended to VN's refusal to consider Kahane, cites a letter from E. signalling her acceptance of such a refusal, and concludes that the contract with Kahane exists only in the imagination of Michel Mohrt.

Dates: May 17, 1957

TLS to Madame D. Ergaz from Vladimir Nabokov, July 12, 1957 ., July 12, 1957

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 45
Scope and Contents Not addressed, in French, detailing further woes involving Girodias, specifically his non-response to overtures by British publishing firms Jonathan Cape and Bodley Head (where Graham Greene is now consulting director), and extravagant demands that seem to make the American publication of Lolita by a first-class publishing house unlikely. Mention of Bodley Head's plans to publish Lolita in a limited edition in order to test the censorship...
Dates: July 12, 1957