Re: Nabokov

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Lomanno wrote:
> 
> I admit, I'm not too familiar with Nabakov, but I've always been curious
> about him. I got about halfway through "Mary," then had to stop because
> the sememster started up. Can anyone tell me which book Sting (of the
> Police) refers to in "Don't Stand So Close To Me" when he says:
> 
>  "It's no use
>   He sees her
>   He starts to shake and cough
>   Just like the
>   Old man in
>   That book by Nabokov."
> 
> --Kari

Almost surely _Lolita_.  Nabakov may have written elsewhere about grown
men and their inappropriate sexual/romantic interest in young girls, but
Sting's reference here is phrased and executed (in the song) in a manner
that points to Nabakov's best-known book, rather than other things he
has written.  The nonchalance of the reference, along with the
(mis)pronounciation of the writer's name, suggests a passing and popular
familiarity with Nabokov--hence, _Lolita_.

-- 
Matt Kozusko    mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu

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