Nabokov’s ‘The Original of Laura’
All of the reviewers I’ve taken notice of so far seem uncertain about whether this book should have been published. I’ve only just started reading it so I’ll reserve judgement on its literary merits. But I’ve said it before and I think it bears saying again: the experience of a book shouldn’t be defined by story alone. A book can also—and nowadays I might even be able to make a case for should—be an artefact. Even insubstantial works can be something to treasure, to covet, to grace your furniture and your life. I’m enjoying just holding and looking at The Original of Laura; weighing the stock in my hand, marvelling at the care that went into the selection of the typefaces, the work that went into matching the printing of the reverse sides of the index cards with their fronts then micro-perforating them. Renowned book jacket designer Chip Kidd has shown great restraint in creating a cover that is both classy and modern. Some of the snootier reviewers are rattling on about questionable constructions in the introduction by and resorting to insults (calling Dmitri snobbish brings to mind the words pot, kettle and black). Others pointlessly compare it with earlier, completed works. For now I’m happy to enjoy Laura as artefact, reminding myself that we can still make luxurious mass-produced objects when we try, and confirming for myself that there’s no substitute for printed word on paper and won’t be for a while.
posted by Chris Bell at 12:22 PM
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