| Author | Message | ||
     Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
I recall some discussion of this topic here some months ago: Apparently Dmitri Nabokov has finally decided to go against his father's wishes and publish The Original of Laura, the novel his father was working on at the time of his death. If you're interested, you can read more here: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/04/nabokov_original_of_laura.html in discussions of the matter, I've been against Dmitri publishing the book, but of course I'll read it anyway. (I'm such a hypocrite.) | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 142.32.208.233 |
I'm with Michael Dirda on this question: if you're a writer, and you want to ensure that something of yours - a draft, an unfinished work, letters, whatever - doesn't get published after you die, then destroy it yourself. Don't foist the responsibility on to someone else's shoulders. I accept that there might be odd occasions when a writer can't do this - as in the case of sudden death or debilitating illness - but for the most part we all have a good deal of time to get our affairs in order before we die, so there's no excuse for not doing it yourself if that's what you really want. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 88.109.186.147 |
Hm. He reckons his father poppe u p before him and said go ahead and publish. So, do you listen to a ghost? | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.51.73 |
Believe you me, I agree with Barbara - if you don't want anyone to see it after you die - destroy it. | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
Although Nabokov was hospitalized at least twice in the 24 months prior to his death, the congestion that took his life was an abrupt development. It's my understanding that he did not have time to burn the novel himself -- that's why he asked Vera to do it. And when Vera herself died without having destroyed it, the task fell to Dmitri. | ||
| Thomasb (Thomasb) Username: Thomasb Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.236.164.76 |
Either way, I'll be buying it when it comes out! |