Hail to the Hero
Sir: I was gratified and delighted to see on your cover the picture of the most revered author of my youth, Vladimir Nabokov [May 23].
Many years ago, when I was 17 or 18, living in China, my father introduced me to books of Vladimir Sirin, which was Nabokov's pseudonym at that time. The first books that I read were The Luzhin Defence; King, Queen, Knave; Invitation to an Execution and some delightful short stories written in Russian. I kept all of his books for years, reading them over and over until they resembled worn-out library books; unfortunately, I lost them in a fire during the war in Manila.
To my delight the literary hero of my youth is now recognized as a genius.
SOPHIA A. GUINKH Doylestown, Pa.
Sir: It was a pleasure to read your long and richly appreciative article on Nabokov. I feel honored that you should credit me with some incidental part in the American recognition of his work. But full credit for the earliest sponsorship of his English writing should go to his first publisher in this country, James Laughlin IV, of New Directions. While enjoying the vogue that culminates in your story, let us not forget the special insight and the generous risks that this small firm has exercised on behalf of unrecognized talent.
HARRY LEVIN Irving Babbitt Professor of Comparative Literature
Harvard University Cambridge
Sir; Playboy has had the privilege, over the years, of publishing three works by Vladimir Nabokov, in whole or in part, before they became books. The most recent was Ada and, as TIME noted in quoting the author, he was less than pleased with the accompanying illustrations. You implied, I believe, that he went so far as to compose a critical cable, which he did not send. In fact, we did get a cable from him reading as follows: "Ada fragments beautifully printed but goodness what illustrations! That improbable young mammal and two revolting frogs."
A. C. SPECTORSKY Associate Publisher and Editorial Director
Playboy Magazine Chicago
Sir: The article and the box on Nabokov were positively brilliant. They had all the best features of writing. They were condensed, informative, amusing and so forth but they were something more: eloquent. The erudition, laughter and whimsy of Nabokov himself seems to have rubbed off on your reporters and writers.
HEIDI FISKE Manhattan
Sir: Everyone agrees that Nabokov is brilliant. However, to this admirer of his style, his novels are merely the best told dirty jokes the world has ever known.
SAMUEL DELONG Jamaica, N.Y.
Sir: It's always a relief to see on your cover the face of a man unrelated to current events. It means that there is no crisis, and the republic will survive another week.
ALEX PETROFF La Jolla, Calif.
Justice or Pretense?