I've been a reader & collecter of Henry Valentine Miller's 1st editions books for 40+ years & not surprised to see a few mentions of Miller on Subtack recently. You obviously have read more than Tropic of Cancer but in my experience that's as far as most more adventurous readers go. Yeah Tropic of Cancer is more than just 'good' as one commenter replyed here for its time was overwhelmingly original and as you point out a spark for Henry in the realization that he had found his voice. I will always love his two trilogies the best but when it comes to recommendations I find that Big Sur and the oranges of Hieronymus Bosch is a better introduction for that more adventurous reader that can't stand too close to the flames.
Anthony I think it's worth mentioning for me as a younger man when I started rereading Miller what I found most valuable was his praise of other writers. Many of whom he put in my path as a curious reader to look up and read. He also wasn't afraid to expose himself with the prejudice he sometimes had to discount an author he thought to be pedestrian if they are popular with the reading masses. A example of this is Margret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' who he avoided reading until he didn't and found the book wonderful & worthy of it's populararty. Yes do read Big Sur and the oranges of Hieronymus Bosch as you know it's when he is settled into his life in Big Sur with many essays about the people in that area and artist in Monterey plus a great essay about a character he knew in Paris mordecan the astrologist.
I've been a reader & collecter of Henry Valentine Miller's 1st editions books for 40+ years & not surprised to see a few mentions of Miller on Subtack recently. You obviously have read more than Tropic of Cancer but in my experience that's as far as most more adventurous readers go. Yeah Tropic of Cancer is more than just 'good' as one commenter replyed here for its time was overwhelmingly original and as you point out a spark for Henry in the realization that he had found his voice. I will always love his two trilogies the best but when it comes to recommendations I find that Big Sur and the oranges of Hieronymus Bosch is a better introduction for that more adventurous reader that can't stand too close to the flames.
Hell yes. There's a lot I have to read by him still, but I will move Big Sur up the list.
Anthony I think it's worth mentioning for me as a younger man when I started rereading Miller what I found most valuable was his praise of other writers. Many of whom he put in my path as a curious reader to look up and read. He also wasn't afraid to expose himself with the prejudice he sometimes had to discount an author he thought to be pedestrian if they are popular with the reading masses. A example of this is Margret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' who he avoided reading until he didn't and found the book wonderful & worthy of it's populararty. Yes do read Big Sur and the oranges of Hieronymus Bosch as you know it's when he is settled into his life in Big Sur with many essays about the people in that area and artist in Monterey plus a great essay about a character he knew in Paris mordecan the astrologist.
Tropic is Cancer is good.
Totally riveting - that description of the scene in 1930s Paris, the women, the men, the smiles, is gonna stay with me...
I almost cut that part out, so thank you for mentioning!