As far as I can recall, the initial shiver of inspiration…
![“As far as I can recall, the initial shiver of inspiration [for Lolita] was somehow prompted by a newspaper story about an ape in the Jardin des Plantes, who, after months of coaxing by a scientist, produced the first drawing ever charcoaled by an animal: this sketch showed the bars of the poor…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/090/vladimir-nabokov-198_animal_as-far-as-i-can-recall-the-initial-shive_715401.jpg)
“As far as I can recall, the initial shiver of inspiration [for Lolita] was somehow prompted by a newspaper story about an ape in the Jardin des Plantes, who, after months of coaxing by a scientist, produced the first drawing ever charcoaled by an animal: this sketch showed the bars of the poor creature's cage.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Nabokov describes a bizarre anecdote that sparked his creative imagination for Lolita, linking animal art to human storytelling.
In simple terms: A strange animal drawing inspired his novel.
Key Takeaway
Notice unexpected sources of inspiration.
Themes
creativity
inspiration
art
literature
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
anecdotal
literary
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- teaching art
- exploring animal cognition
- seeking novel metaphors
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
cross‑species communication
Questions to Reflect On
- What unconventional sources have sparked your ideas?
- How do you assess the value of a random inspiration?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may be apocryphal, and its relevance to the novel's themes is tenuous.