Vladimir Nabokov

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By MARYROSS , 13 July, 2018

Kinbote’s commentary 149 mentions two islands, “Nitra and Indra” (meaning ‘inner’ and outer’), “two black islets that seemed to address each other in cloaked parley…”

 

I believe these refer to two Hindu gods, Nidra and Indra.  Nabokov may have used a different transliteration for Nidra (Nitra), or he may have decided to play a little word-golf in order to obfuscate the meaning in order to have the reader dig deeper into the fact that ‘Nidra” and “Indra” are anagrams.

 

By dana_dragunoiu , 30 June, 2018

This  message  was originally  submitted  by  alainfchamplain@GMAIL.COM 

Who did/do you think Gerald Emerald was referring to when he said “I guess
Mr. Shade has already left with the Great Beaver," in the Foreword?

I always thought the joke was obvious, but I've come across several
theories involving Castor and Pollux, Castro, Shakespearean armor — none of
which have mentioned the heart of the bit.

At this risk of stating the obvious: