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16th out of 158 books
—
27 voters
A Literate Passion: Letters of Anais Nin & Henry Miller, 1932-1953
The intimacy between Nin and Miller, first disclosed in Henry and June, is documented further in this impassioned exchange of letters between the two controversial writers. Edited and with an Introduction by Gunther Stuhlmann; Index.
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
April 22nd 1989
by Mariner Books
(first published 1987)
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Nov 28, 2012
Zenmoon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who enjoy peeking through that window into writers' minds
Nin and Miller's passionate affair is now common knowledge, and this anthology of their letters lay's it even more bare. It's a fascinating window into these two writer's minds; it offers a compelling insight for other writers - just what did make these two literary greats tick? Certainly passion. And how did their love, and major major lust for each other affect their outpouring of work, and their perceptions of themselves as writers?
I came to these letters after my immersion in Henry and June,...more
I came to these letters after my immersion in Henry and June,...more
A- I highly recommend this epistolorary collection to all Nin fans; you learn to understand her love and devotion to Miller, and you do feel a little more empathetic to Miller--he has SO much love for her. You see the raw emotions--jealous, white hot sex, passion--in these letters. They span over the years, so towards the end, they are just friends, but you know their love always runs deep.
This is one of my very favorite reads. So passionate and full of heartbreak, drama and longing. Reading both Henry and Anais's letters made me feel like I was one of their trusted confidants to whom they revealed their most intimate of moments to.
Feb 09, 2009
Julie Ebbinghaus
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Henry Miller fans, Anaïs Nin fans, sentimentalists, Francophiles
I’m sure many a literati heart sunk when reading that due to space limitations, the editors felt it necessary to eliminate “lengthy discussions of Dostoevsky, Proust, Joyce, D.H. Lawrence, [...:] ruminations on films, books, and so on...”
Fortunately, such illuminations were not withheld entirely and serve to illustrate the deep, intellectual bond that formed the basis of Miller and Nin’s love affair. While the letters recall impassioned discussions on literature, film, travel, poverty, war and...more
Fortunately, such illuminations were not withheld entirely and serve to illustrate the deep, intellectual bond that formed the basis of Miller and Nin’s love affair. While the letters recall impassioned discussions on literature, film, travel, poverty, war and...more
My first introduction to Anais Nin, completely accidental, hungry for any Miller I could find at Half Price. Like an entirely new world. At seventeen, I didn't know people could feel this way about each other. God, these two were on fire.
What an amazing book! Incredible how it shows you how dedicated their relationship was!
You keep wondering what did go wrong, why it didn't work out, why just friends?
There's so much to learn from their letters.
They helped each other and they built something of their own. It might seem strange to other people, but it worked out and both of them reached success.
Their love might have burned out but there was more than that:they were intrinsically linked.
There was trust, friendship, loyalty, hope. O...more
You keep wondering what did go wrong, why it didn't work out, why just friends?
There's so much to learn from their letters.
They helped each other and they built something of their own. It might seem strange to other people, but it worked out and both of them reached success.
Their love might have burned out but there was more than that:they were intrinsically linked.
There was trust, friendship, loyalty, hope. O...more
This is one of my all-time favorite reads. The passion and longing between Henry and Anais and their eventual lifelong relationship was awe-inspiring.
1 like · like · see review
An amazing collection of letters between Miller and Nin. Raw, passionate, angry. A beautiful inside look at a not always beautiful love affair.
Provides deep insight into such an impassioned relationship - even more so than Nin's unexpunged diaries. The revelry and candid intimacy in the beginning to mid sections of the book gives way to strained friendship at the end. So disheartening to see such a great love fall apart! Letters shine due to Miller's and Nin's pervading wisdoms on life. Too bad they hadn't the same acuity into their hearts.
Once you become obsessed with Henry Miller reading about Anais Nin is a natural progression.
Not as interesting as I thought it would be...disappointing. Henry and June is SO much better!!!!!
These letters explore a budding friendship, the burgeoning of a tempestuous relationship, all kinds of passionate pleas for the individual in society, solemn entreaties for love and autonomy, sentiments concerning the role of the artist in 20th century America, disappointments and regrets, and finally a return to friendship.
You won’t be able to put it down. You’ll wish for letters of intimacy, that these letters could find you in the present, and, no doubt, you will morn the death of the letter...more
You won’t be able to put it down. You’ll wish for letters of intimacy, that these letters could find you in the present, and, no doubt, you will morn the death of the letter...more
Gorgeous, raw, sensual, cerebral, literary exchange between two great authors and lovers.
I just finished it... I may update this review when I am can see this from a distance, but for now, I am heart-broken.
Mar 03, 2010
E.J. Matze
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
girls
Recommended to E.J. by:
Henry miller
Shelves:
stories
She wrote to earn a living by selling articles to the newspaper, magazines and the likes.
Nin's passion for Miller knew no bounds, one of my favorites.
What do they say--riveting?
Aug 04, 2011
Idelys Izquierdo Laboy
added it
I like the passion books.
Aug 09, 2011
Saxon Henry
added it
I'm on a Paris literary jag these days and loving reading about those glorious times in the City of Light. It's inspired me to start a virtual salon on our blog http://adroyt.com.
Largely innocuous stuff, but there were a few lines that were so brilliant that they saved the book for me completely.
I love both of these writers very much. I will read anything by them. I prefer Miller slightly over Nin, though. Who knew Miller was such a prolific letter-writer? I know now, obviously, but these letters are a glimpse into their lives, the real stuff, not just the diaries and the Tropics. You can really see the love of craft, as well as for the other.
This is a fascinating series of letters between Miller and Nin. It really gives you an intimate peek into their lives and their passionate friendship. Absolutely recommend it for fans of either author.
this is about as amazing as any friendship gets between two people. its such a peek into the lives of two of my favorite writers.
I went through a several months phase of reading Anais' diaries, and found these letters fascinating alongside them...
Everything that was promised. Sexy, intimate letters? Literary voyeurism at its best.
Briefe voller Andeutungen. Geschichte einer besonderen Beziehung.
Oct 18, 2008
Jackie
added it
these letters chronicle a very intense artistic liaison...
A bit of europe in America.
Even better the 3rd time around.
Jun 18, 2013
Candra Comella
marked it as to-read
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French-born novelist, passionate eroticist and short story writer, who gained international fame with her journals. Spanning the years from 1931 to 1974, they give an account of one woman's voyage of self-discovery. "It's all right for a woman to be, above all, human. I am a woman first of all." (from The Diary of Anaïs Nin, vol. I, 1966)
Anaïs Nin was largely ignored until the 1960s. Today she is...more
More about Anaïs Nin...
Anaïs Nin was largely ignored until the 1960s. Today she is...more
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“Anaïs, I don't know how to tell you what I feel. I live in perpetual expectancy. You come and the time slips away in a dream. It is only when you go that I realize completely your presence. And then it is too late. You numb me. [...] This is a little drunken, Anaïs. I am saying to myself "here is the first woman with whom I can be absolutely sincere." I remember your saying - "you could fool me, I wouldn't know it." When I walk along the boulevards and think of that. I can't fool you - and yet I would like to. I mean that I can never be absolutely loyal - it's not in me. I love women, or life, too much - which it is, I don't know. But laugh, Anaïs, I love to hear you laugh. You are the only woman who has a sense of gaiety, a wise tolerance - no more, you seem to urge me to betray you. I love you for that. [...]
I don't know what to expect of you, but it is something in the way of a miracle. I am going to demand everything of you - even the impossible, because you encourage it. You are really strong. I even like your deceit, your treachery. It seems aristocratic to me.”
—
260 people liked it
I don't know what to expect of you, but it is something in the way of a miracle. I am going to demand everything of you - even the impossible, because you encourage it. You are really strong. I even like your deceit, your treachery. It seems aristocratic to me.”
“I want to undress you, vulgarize you a bit.”
—
98 people liked it
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