现实主义的《普宁》:历史在场与政治介入

Realistic Pnin:Historical and Political Engagement of Nabokov

《普宁》被视为后现代学院小说经典,却蕴含着深刻的历史维度,体现出作家的政治介入。小说折射纳博科夫个人经历,指涉20世纪前半叶的历史事件——俄国革命、纳粹暴行等,以轻盈的艺术笔触暗示当时俄国侨民艰难的历史境遇;作家试图纠正外界对俄国侨民的误解与贬损,为俄国侨民知识分子正名。小说的历史气息与批判力量源于作家对俄国旧式自由主义思想的忠诚。作家将对历史和现实的反思批判作为隐性情节嵌入小说叙事,形成了独具风格的历史书写方式。

Though viewed as a classic of postmodern campus novel,Pnin contains a profound historical dimension and indicates Nabokov’s political engagement.Lightly and artistically fused into the novel Nabokov’s personal experience and the historical events of the first half of the 20th century such as Russian revolution and Nazi atrocities,the author implies the difficult situations of Russian immigrants at that time and intends to clear up misunderstanding and denigration of them to help justify the importance of exiled Russian intellectuals.The historical touch and critical power of Pnin suggests Nabokov’s loyalty to the old Russian liberalism.Embedding his reflection and criticism of history and reality into the novel as implicit plots,the author develops a unique style of historical writing.