#brian boyd

[doloresdisparue]

Where does the theory that Dolly didn't actually die in the book come from? I thought the part where it states that "Mrs. Richard F. Schiller" died in childbirth was the only part not written in Humbert's POV.

You are correct. If you're talking about academic circles it's a theory that comes from a discrepancy between dates. Humbert claims to have received Dolly's letter Sep 22 with her having written it Sep 18. According to the foreword he died on Nov 16. But the manuscript also states it took Humbert 56 days to write "Lolita". Subtracting the 56 days from the date of his death gives us Sep 21, the day before he allegedly received the letter - where he was obviously not in prison and not writing yet and had not killed Quilty. Some interpretations have taken this to mean that Humbert never received a letter from Dolores at all and everything following her disappearance is made up by him. Therefore he does not know her actual fate and we can believe she is alive. The foreword no longer matters because there is no proof Mrs. Richard F. Schiller is really Dolores Haze. Some people have gone even deeper down the rabbit hole here and started making equations with other significant numbers in the book such as 342 to prove this is really Nabokov's intent.

Brian Boyd, Nabokov's biographer who was in pretty close personal contact with him as I understand it has refuted this theory and argued Nabokov was simply bad with keeping numbers straight despite his attention to detail. Dieter Zimmer, a huge Nabokov scholar also pointed out that Humbert makes a few errors in some of his "facts" and it would not be unthinkable that the character was simply meant to be bad at keeping his dates straight because he was kind of losing it after 56 days of manic writing in the psych ward.

Much as I would like Dolly to live and thrive I personally also don't think this theory holds any water. It renders the emotional climax of the book moot and if he didn't actually find Dolly and kill Quilty what is he even in prison for? Yes we would all like to see him get got for what he did to Dolly but realistically and from his writing that was not it.

There are also some people who have decided to interpret the ending as more of a metaphor ("Lolita" dies but Dolly lives because Lolita is only what Humbert perceives her as) but I don't think any of those people are really claiming that was Nabokov's intent and it's more of a "the author is dead and I enjoy this interpretation" type deal and I think that's nice and valid.

I don't begrudge anyone the wish to see Dolores survive. The ending is a perfect tragedy to me and probably the best artistic choice but as I've said multiple times the conscious choice to let her survive and the thought process behind it is another reason I appreciate the musical.

[kiki-de-la-petite-flaque]

It’s pouring, the trees are getting greener before my eyes, I love you. I’m almost afraid of the intensity of this happiness.

— Vladimir Nabokov, from Letters to Véra tr. by Olga Voronina & Brian Boyd

[sneakertin]

when somebody asks me what do i want for my birthday but i can't say "the legendary 'stamp out the beatles' sweatshirt that belonged to george harrison and was worn by brian epstein, pattie boyd and dhani harrison" so i just say. books.

[eroticlamb]

Pattie Boyd posing with The Rolling Stones, 1964 ♡ Photographed by John French

[kitsunetsuki]

Brian Duffy - Vogue Patterns Ad (Vogue UK 1965)

[deitripper]

God i'm in love with those stripes🍏🌈😭 I should draw more John of that era🌚💕 I hope u like it!

[bonithica-art]

what if the bugs were ponies

[silver-spr1ngss]

I ❤︎ the 60s !

[gardenwalrus]

the image of george barging into brian’s living room and pleading to get married to pattie is killing me

[dactylichexameterbce]

2nd edition of the British Pop Music Wife-Swapping Chart!

[bluesrocknrollingstones]

Pattie n Stones! I always adore these photoshoots by John French, the way Brian looking up 😻

[pattie-remembers]

Bullfight Arles France 1965

Pattie Boyd, George Harrison and Brian Epstein

[60sfactorygirl]

Brian Epstein, Pattie Boyd and George Harrison photographed by David Magnus at Abbey Road Studios while during the Our World session , 1967

[tyger-land]

ʙʀɪᴀɴ ᴇɴᴏ ʜᴀs ʜɪs ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀɪᴛ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ by artist Glynn Boyd Harte, August 1975.

[kitsunetsuki]

Brian Duffy - Pattie Boyd Wearing Sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith (Vogue UK 1965)

[marahsfandomloves]

Middle-Earth Alumni supporting the War of the Rohirrim cast at the premiere is incredible!!! I can't wait to return back to Middle-Earth next weekend for my birthday!!