From Nabokov's "King, Queen, Knave"

Don't know very much at all about Martin Amis (a friend has read him and praises him -- I've been looking but still haven't tested the waters). But apparently we can agree on one thing: Nabokov was a great writer. Ranking Nabokov's texts, admittedly a subjective thing, is another matter: We'll have to agree to disagree (Thus far -- I'm not even halfway through it -- I'd put King Queen Knave towards the tail).  Here's Martin's 100th birthday salute to Nabokov and  his personal Nabokov playlist:


*

Anyway, another lick that tickled me from King, Queen, Knave:

Piffke was burly, dignified, and smartly dressed. He had blond eyelashes, baby-colored skin, a profile that had prudently stopped halfway between man and teapot, and a second-rate diamond on his plump auricular.

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