I freely admit that I've never read more than about 2 pages of "Lolita" and nothing else of Nabakov's (although he does figure prominently on my list of books to read at some point in my life). I do have a definite feeling about authors and their personal ownership of texts vs ownership by the readers, especially in regards to uncompleted works. I don't think that they should be published. Perhaps some scholars can view the draft, but the world at large shouldn't get to see it. Writers work so hard at the crafting of their tales, at creating interesting plots and characters, at the creative use of language, that it seems unjust to put out their last work, their last chance at a new impact without the author being able to craft it into what he wants. I say that he should respect his father's wish and destroy the index cards.

Although the artist's preference is to have only completed works available, having access to the work-in-progress tells a great deal about how you view the completed works. It shows the road travelled to the end result.