The feud : Vladimir Nabokov, Edmund Wilson, and the end of a beautiful friendship

The Feud is the deliciously ironic (and sad) tale of how two literary giants destroyed their friendship in a fit of mutual pique and egomania. In 1940, Edmund Wilson was the undisputed big dog of American letters. Vladimir Nabokov was a near-penniless Russian exile seeking asylum in the States. Wilson became a mentor to Nabokov, introducing him to every editor of note, assigning him book reviews for The New Republic, engineering a Guggenheim Fellowship. Their intimate friendship blossomed over a shared interest in all things Russian, ruffled a bit by political disagreements. But then came the worldwide best-selling novel Lolita, and the tables were turned. Suddenly Nabokov was the big (and very rich) dog. The feud finally erupted in full when Nabokov published his hugely footnoted and virtually unreadable literal translation of Pushkin's famously untranslatable verse novel, Eugene Onegin. Wilson attacked his friend's translation with hammer and tongs in The New York Review of Books . Nabokov counterattacked. Back and forth the increasingly aggressive letters flew, until the narcissism of small differences reduced their friendship to ashes. Alex Beam has fashioned this clash of literary titans into a delightful and irresistible book--a comic contretemps of a very high order and a poignant demonstration of the fragility of even the deepest of friendships. (With black-and-white illustrations throughout) From the Hardcover edition In 1940 Edmund Wilson Was The Undisputed Big Dog Of American Letters. Vladimir Nabokov Was A Near-penniless Russian Exile Seeking Asylum In The States. Wilson Became A Mentor To Nabokov, Introducing Him To Every Editor Of Note, Assigning Reviews For The New Republic, Engineering A Guggenheim. Their Intimate Friendship Blossomed Over A Shared Interest In All Things Russian, Ruffled A Bit By Political Disagreements. But Then Came Lolita, And Suddenly Nabokov Was The Big (and Very Rich) Dog. Finally The Feud Erupted In Full When Nabokov Published His Hugely Footnoted And Virtually Unreadable Literal Translation Of Pushkin's Famously Untranslatable Verse Novel Eugene Onegin. Wilson Attacked His Friend's Translation With Hammer And Tong In The New York Review Of Books. Nabokov Counterattacked In The Same Publication. Back And Forth The Increasingly Aggressive Letters Volleyed Until Their Friendship Was Reduced To Ashes By The Narcissism Of Small Differences-- The Beginning -- Such Good Friends -- Sex Doesn't Sell...or Does It? -- Whose Mother Is Russia Anyway? -- Meet Eugene Onegin -- What Hath Nabokov Wrought? -- He Is A Very Old Friend Of Mine -- We Are All Pushkinists Now -- Until Death Do Us Part -- Just Kidding? -- Why? -- As I Was Saying... Alex Beam. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 179-186) And Index. __The Feud__In 1940, Edmund Wilson was the undisputed big dog of American letters. Vladimir Nabokov was a near-penniless Russian exile seeking asylum in the States. Wilson became a mentor to Nabokov, introducing him to every editor of note, assigning him book reviews forengineering a Guggenheim Fellowship. Their intimate friendship blossomed over a shared interest in all things Russian, ruffled a bit by political disagreements. But then came the worldwide best-selling noveland the tables were turned. Suddenly Nabokov was the big (and very rich) dog. The feud finally erupted in full when Nabokov published his hugely footnoted and virtually unreadable literal translation of Pushkin's famously untranslatable verse novel,Wilson attacked his friend's translation with hammer and tongs in. Nabokov counterattacked. Back and forth the increasingly aggressive letters flew, until the narcissism of small differences reduced their friendship to ashes.Alex Beam has fashioned this clash of literary titans into a delightful and irresistible book--a comic contretemps of a very high order and a poignant demonstration of the fragility of even the deepest of friendships.__(With black-and-white illustrations throughout)__ Clash of the Titans! The deliciously ironic (and sad) tale of how two literary giants destroyed their friendship in a fit of mutual pique and egomania. In 1940 Edmund Wilson was the undisputed big dog of American letters. Vladimir Nabokov was a near-penniless Russian exile seeking asylum in the States. Wilson became a mentor to Nabokov, introducing him to every editor of note, assigning to him book reviews for The New Republic, engineering a Guggenheim. Their intimate friendship blossomed over a shared interest in all things Russian, ruffled a bit by political disagreements. But then came Lolita, and suddenly Nabokov was the big (and very rich) dog. Finally the feud erupted in full when Nabokov published his hugely footnoted and virtually unreadable literal translation of Pushkin's famously untranslatable verse novel Eugene Onegin. Wilson attacked his friend's translation with hammer and tong in The New York Review of Books. Nabokov counterattacked in the same publication. Back and forth the increasingly aggressive letters volleyed until their friendship was reduced to ashes by the narcissism of small differences. "In 1940 Edmund Wilson was the undisputed big dog of American letters. Vladimir Nabokov was a near-penniless Russian exile seeking asylum in the States. Wilson became a mentor to Nabokov, introducing him to every editor of note, assigning reviews for The New Republic, engineering a Guggenheim. Their intimate friendship blossomed over a shared interest in all things Russian, ruffled a bit by political disagreements. But then came Lolita, and suddenly Nabokov was the big (and very rich) dog. Finally the feud erupted in full when Nabokov published his hugely footnoted and virtually unreadable literal translation of Pushkin's famously untranslatable verse novel Eugene Onegin. Wilson attacked his friend's translation with hammer and tong in the New York Review of Books. Nabokov counterattacked in the same publication. Back and forth the increasingly aggressive letters volleyed until their friendship was reduced to ashes by the narcissism of small differences"-- Provided by publisher