Nabokov's blues : the scientific odyssey of a literary genius

Although he had no formal training in biology, during the 1940s Vladimir Nabokov was an acknowledged expert on Blues, a diverse group of butterflies inhabiting some of the remotest parts of Latin America. In 1945, while serving as curator at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, he published a radical new classification of Blues, a paper that initially caused a stir in the rarified field of lepidoptery. After the war, with the increasing movement of science toward theory and specialization, his groundbreaking work was largely forgotten. With the publication of Lolita in 1958 Nabokov himself turned away from formal scientific lepidoptery, though he never gave up his great love of collecting butterflies. It was nearly fifty years before scientists followed up on his pioneering work with a series of expeditions to the high Andes of South America. What they found led not only to new thinking about Nabokov's place in science but to fresh insights on the global movement of species and the threat of their extinction. Part biography of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, and part scientific detective story, Nabokov's Blues explores the rich and varied place butterflies hold in Nabokov's fiction, as well as far-reaching questions of biogeography and evolution, and the worldwide crisis in ecology and biodiversity. One Of The Last Of The Gentleman-naturalists, Vladimir Nabokov, The Russian-american Author Of Lolita And Other Enduring Works Of Fiction, Had No Formal Training In Biology, But During The 1940s Was An Acknowledged Expert On Blues, A Diverse Group Of Butterflies Inhabiting Some Of The Remotest Parts Of Latin America. In 1945, While Serving As Curator At Harvard's Museum Of Comparative Zoology, He Published A Radical New Classification Of Blues, A Paper That Initially Caused A Stir In The Rarified Field Of Lepidoptery--book Jacket. It Was Nearly Fifty Years Before Scientists Followed Up On His Pioneering Work, With A Series Of Expeditions To The High Andes Of South America. What They Found Led Not Only To New Thinking About Nabokov's Place In Science, But To Fresh Insights On The Global Movement Of Species And The Threat Of Their Extinction--book Jacket. Part Biography Of One Of The Greatest Writers Of The Twentieth Century, And Part Scientific Detective Story, Nabokoy's Blues Explores The Rich And Varied Place Butterflies Hold In Nabokov's Fiction, As Well As Far-reaching Questions Of Biogeography And Evolution, And The Worldwide Crisis In Ecology And Biodiversity--book Jacket. The Aurelian -- The Most Famous Lepidopterist In The World -- A Tricky Subject -- A Legendary Land -- Lumpers And Splitters -- A Life In Lepidoptery -- The Searchers -- Scientists And Strategy -- The Incorrigible Continent -- The Vertical Landscape -- Finding The Frontiers -- Dancing With Fire -- Nabokov's Blues -- The Code -- The Race To Name Nabokov's Blues -- Literature And Lepidoptera -- Darwin's Finches--nabokov's Blues -- A Glossary Of Binomial And Common Nabokovian Butterfly Names -- Nabokov's Scientific Publications On Blue Butterflies -- Principal Academic Publications Completing Nabokov's Work On Neotropical Blues. Kurt Johnson, Steve Coates. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [349]-356) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Epigraph......Page 10 CONTENTS......Page 12 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 14 Part I: The Aurelian......Page 16 1. The Most Famous Lepidopterist in the World......Page 18 2. A Tricky Subject......Page 44 3. A Legendary Land......Page 71 4. Lumpers and Splitters......Page 98 5. A Life in Lepidoptery......Page 125 Part II: The Searchers......Page 152 6. Scientists and Strategy......Page 154 7. The Incorrigible Continent......Page 179 8. The Vertical Landscape......Page 208 9. Finding the Frontiers......Page 231 10. Dancing with Fire......Page 252 Part III: Nabokov's Blues......Page 280 11. The Code......Page 282 12. The Race to Name Nabokov's Blues......Page 300 13. Literature and Lepidoptera......Page 314 14. Darwin's Finches - Nabokov's Blues......Page 338 Afterword......Page 363 Glossary of Binomial and Common Nabokovian Butterfly Names......Page 364 Nabokov's Scientific Publications on Blue Butterflies......Page 370 Principal Academic Publications Completing Nabokov's Work on Neotropical Blues......Page 371 General Bibliography......Page 372 Index......Page 380 Traite de la passion de V. Nabokov pour les papillons et leurs places dans son oeuvre. Une partie de sa collection (4323 espèces capturées entre 1959 et 1977) est conservée au Musée cantonal de zoologie à Lausanne