The act of vividly recalling a patch of the past is something that I seem to have been performing with the utmost zest all my life, and I have reason to believe that this almost pathological keenness of the retrospective faculty is a hereditary trait.
The author, Vladimir Nabokov, reflects on his talent for vividly remembering moments from his past. He describes this ability as something he has engaged in passionately throughout his life. This keen sense of nostalgia and memory seems to be an intrinsic part of him, almost to the point of being excessive.
Nabokov suggests that this strong inclination towards reminiscing may not just be a personal trait, but could be inherited. The connection he makes between his memory and familial lineage indicates a deep appreciation for the past and the influences that shape one’s identity.