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A Literate Passion: Letters of Anais Nin and Henry Miller, 1932-1953 by Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin
nikkigee81's review against another edition
3.0
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.
candecast's review against another edition
4.0
I've never really gotten into Nin nor Miller. I read the Colossus of Maroussi before I went to Greece and enjoyed it very much. "A Literate Passion", really made me miss Paris and France, while reading some of the excerpts I could smell the Croque-Monsieur while sitting in a street cafe. I kept wondering what it was like back in the 30's and while I've never been to Louveciennes, when I do go back to France that will be on my list to visit; I'm sure it has changed dramatically. While reading the book I watched a few interviews with Miller on YouTube and got the impression that he was quite a character. At one point I started thinking "dirty old man" but then put it into perspective. The book really gets interesting near the end when Miller is in Big Sur and Nin in New York. I have visited his home in Big Sur which is now a museum featuring his watercolors. At this point when I read about him in Big Sur, I see Miller more of a philosopher than a writer. I wonder if he was influenced by Alan Watts or vice versa. Then of course there is the passion between Nin and Miller; clearly they loved each but the sex! Whew! Oh to be a fly on the wall. The thing that amazes me is the financial support he received from people who didn't even know him. Not sure how he would fare in today's modern work ethic...homeless? Adding Nexus, Plexus, Sexus and both Tropics along with Nin's diary to my reading list.
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