Reflections: Henry Miller

by Henry Miller, Twinka Thiebaud (Editor)

Life with Henry Miller in his home near the end of his life, as described by Twinka Thiebaud. I

Genres: Biography

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1981

About the author

Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist. He broke with existing literary forms and developed a new type of semi-autobiographical novel that blended character study, social criticism, philosophical reflection, stream of consciousness, explicit language, sex, surrealist free association, and mysticism. His most characteristic works of this kind are Tropic of Cancer, Black Spring, Tropic of Capricorn, and the trilogy The Rosy Crucifixion, which are based on his experiences in New York City and Paris (all of which were banned in the United States until 1961). He also wrote travel memoirs and literary criticism, and painted watercolors.

Reviews

[Jim Beatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book then is a legacy to be shared from a mentor, teacher,surrogate, father and friend. It is a celebration of a wealth of human experience, eighty-eight years worth to be exact. May it help serve as another roadmap into the heart, spirit and mind of an eccentric genius, confirmed romantic and enlightened human being. Henry Valentine Miller, citizen of the universe, pioneer of the infinite.

[Thomas Shaye-Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

first book of 2021!

[Chad Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Miller was born in 1891 and died in 1980. He was a man from the turn of the century. Published after his death, this book is the author and artist’s reflections upon his work, life and many famous and notable people he met in his colorful life. Each story is about two pages long and is written in a conversational style as he was telling his stories to his live-in assistant and housekeeper.

Miller is endlessly quotable and the book is a salacious page turner. You discover how he feels about his works, the women in his life, his favorite books and authors as well as painters and musicians — many of them quite famous and his contemporaries ; people such as Pablo Picasso, Anaïs Nin, Charlie Chaplin, etc

Years ago, I read “ Conversations with Henry Miller” which has always been one of my treasured books. Miller encouraged me to read Norwegian author Knut Hamsen whom I thoroughly enjoyed reading and recommended other authors and books ; one of which I just ordered on Gurdjieff.

Henry Miller lived a bohemian lifestyle and was a man’s man but also very successful with women.

I could go on and on: I have a few Henry Miller books on my radar including a couple that I already own ( one is a rare edition). He was mostly known for being notoriously unpublished but some Nobel Prize winners thought the prize should have been awarded to Miller and he, himself, held that opinion as well.

Miller speaks to me and my soul ; I want to really embrace more of his work. This book is a gem.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are a series of dinner conversations with Henry Miller as transcribed by his friend and housekeeper, Twinka Thiebaud. Reflections gathers together a number of these conversations and lets them stand on their own, which they do nicely. If all we know of the author is his Tropics books and the Nexus/Sexus/Plexus trilogy, we will find here a more humble portrait of an old man who really does love and respect women, and who is, perhaps, a bit on the shy side with them.

I always suspected that the randy young Henry was a literary invention. Either that, or I am really missing out on something.

[ger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a putting down on paper of some of Miller's conversations and it reads like that, kind of ho hum until it suddenly took off for me when he goes into Feminism and looking back at his early writing. He talks of Anais Nin, June, regrets and Death and Analysis..
If it was that good from the start, it would get 5 stars.
Have to Confess I'm biased in favour of Henry.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice treat, like sitting in a room with the guy, roundtabling about a subject. I didn't read it in one sitting. I'd nibble one off, take a walk. Ponder. Time well spent, considering how much is murdered by the trivial and useless.

[Tony Gualtieri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of table talk, but the book itself is a torso. The best version is What Doncha Know about Henry Miller, which contains a lengthy memoir by Twinka Thibaud along with the text of Reflections.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give almost anything in the world to have been a guest at Henry Miller’s dinner table.

[Isak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there is no author for whom my ambivalence is more extreme.

[Gustav Kruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastisk - har ikke læst Miller, det vil jeg virkelig gerne nu!!

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'd like more than anything, to be a man who grows flowers. It seems to me that the life of the horticulturist is the cleanest, the purest, the most natural life of all. The man who tends a garden is the man most directly in touch with God."
- On Death, page 125

[Jcooper Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little book of personality as an idea about love; it's gossipy, quirky, colloquial, easy, ribald, silly, sharp, frank, boyish, arrogant, warm, and zeitgeisty.