Prof Rajita Chaudhuri follow some off-beat trends like organizing make up sessions
American author Henry Miller was a major literary force in the late 1950s largely because his two most important novels, prohibited from publication and sale in the United States for many years, tested Federal laws concerning art and pornography. In his later years Miller was admired mainly for his role as prophet and visionary. Denouncing the empty materialism of modern existence, he called for a new religion of body and spirit based upon the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, Walt Whitman, and D. H. Lawrence. In the following letter, Miller talks about his travels across Tropic of Cancer.
January 22, 1933,
Tropic of Cancer
Dear Ana's
Caf' nights! Room too cold, fingers freeze. Halfway thru the last insertion for Tropic of Cancer. Got drunk on it. Tonight, reading `Samuel` Putnam's Rabelais, I see so many points of correspondence'amazing. His chapter on Fran'ois' first visit to Paris interests me terribly'the song of the streets again. And Putnam anticipates me when he says: 'But Paris, despite the changes, always remains the same.' I have always had a hankering to someday cover the trajectory of a few great men'like Hannibal, Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Genghis Khan'and now Rabelais' looks good to me. In fact, at Dijon, I got the authentic flavor of those cities from the students'the very names of the cities are familiar to me and mean things. Just think'it was at 54 St. Andr' des Arts, Paris, that Rabelais lived for a while (the former Hotel St. Denis). And it was only a stone's throw away, on this very street, that I sold my clothes for a song to a Jewish merchant. Great street. And at La Rochelle, where Osborn went with Jeanne, Rabelais sojourned and was fascinated by the sights'it was then second to Lyons in size, a great commercial port. Also'Rabelais has strong words to say about the institutions of learning, their physical aspect, the rotten eggs they served and the lice in the rooms. (Dijon!) It was at Avignon he had a fling with a woman'then a loose city. And, did I ever say how fascinated I was by this city, when I stopped there'that little square opposite Palais du Pape'and the monastery outside the city where once the monks made Chartreuse. And, back in Paris, Rabelais even knew the Vanves district! Interesting is the difference 2 centuries made in Paris'between Villon's time and Rabelais'. Does this interest you?
Incidentally I took the wrong portfolio the other day. Brought back Tropic of Capricorn'so those pages I took out do belong herein. If you come to Clichy in a day or two, will you bring the other along?
More dreams. Falling behind on the records.
Everything is well. I see that 2nd book [Black Spring] falling quickly into line. I'm going to fall on it and assassinate it. Wasted too much time on it already. Dostoevski weather, eh? We bought a marmite and made a wonderful pot-au-feu which lasted two days. Fills you marvelously. I love it. We'll make it for you someday.
At rue St. Honor' I saw a picture in window one night (store closed) that I am going to look at again. Has an astrological aspect. If you are in that region, notice it. I have you in mind'it was pretty dark and I couldn't well make it out.
Will be having my corduroy coat tomorrow'altered as per suggestion. I love it. Jesus, when I put on my glad rags now I don't recognize myself any more. Everywhere I look I see a me that you have made. You inhabit the walls. Bought 2 fine big sheets of white paper and pinned them to the wall. Watch them burgeon! Anything may develop there from. I realize more and more that I am leading an interior life. Nothing outside excites me very much anymore. I walk along with thoughts, always a little 'en retard.'
Your letter'yes, that was precisely it. But don't over-elaborate! Nevertheless, raise the roof.
American author Henry Miller was a major literary force in the late 1950s largely because his two most important novels, prohibited from publication and sale in the United States for many years, tested Federal laws concerning art and pornography. In his later years Miller was admired mainly for his role as prophet and visionary. Denouncing the empty materialism of modern existence, he called for a new religion of body and spirit based upon the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, Walt Whitman, and D. H. Lawrence. In the following letter, Miller talks about his travels across Tropic of Cancer.
January 22, 1933,Tropic of Cancer
Dear Ana's
Caf' nights! Room too cold, fingers freeze. Halfway thru the last insertion for Tropic of Cancer. Got drunk on it. Tonight, reading `Samuel` Putnam's Rabelais, I see so many points of correspondence'amazing. His chapter on Fran'ois' first visit to Paris interests me terribly'the song of the streets again. And Putnam anticipates me when he says: 'But Paris, despite the changes, always remains the same.' I have always had a hankering to someday cover the trajectory of a few great men'like Hannibal, Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Genghis Khan'and now Rabelais' looks good to me. In fact, at Dijon, I got the authentic flavor of those cities from the students'the very names of the cities are familiar to me and mean things. Just think'it was at 54 St. Andr' des Arts, Paris, that Rabelais lived for a while (the former Hotel St. Denis). And it was only a stone's throw away, on this very street, that I sold my clothes for a song to a Jewish merchant. Great street. And at La Rochelle, where Osborn went with Jeanne, Rabelais sojourned and was fascinated by the sights'it was then second to Lyons in size, a great commercial port. Also'Rabelais has strong words to say about the institutions of learning, their physical aspect, the rotten eggs they served and the lice in the rooms. (Dijon!) It was at Avignon he had a fling with a woman'then a loose city. And, did I ever say how fascinated I was by this city, when I stopped there'that little square opposite Palais du Pape'and the monastery outside the city where once the monks made Chartreuse. And, back in Paris, Rabelais even knew the Vanves district! Interesting is the difference 2 centuries made in Paris'between Villon's time and Rabelais'. Does this interest you?
Incidentally I took the wrong portfolio the other day. Brought back Tropic of Capricorn'so those pages I took out do belong herein. If you come to Clichy in a day or two, will you bring the other along?
More dreams. Falling behind on the records.
Everything is well. I see that 2nd book [Black Spring] falling quickly into line. I'm going to fall on it and assassinate it. Wasted too much time on it already. Dostoevski weather, eh? We bought a marmite and made a wonderful pot-au-feu which lasted two days. Fills you marvelously. I love it. We'll make it for you someday.
At rue St. Honor' I saw a picture in window one night (store closed) that I am going to look at again. Has an astrological aspect. If you are in that region, notice it. I have you in mind'it was pretty dark and I couldn't well make it out.
Will be having my corduroy coat tomorrow'altered as per suggestion. I love it. Jesus, when I put on my glad rags now I don't recognize myself any more. Everywhere I look I see a me that you have made. You inhabit the walls. Bought 2 fine big sheets of white paper and pinned them to the wall. Watch them burgeon! Anything may develop there from. I realize more and more that I am leading an interior life. Nothing outside excites me very much anymore. I walk along with thoughts, always a little 'en retard.'
Your letter'yes, that was precisely it. But don't over-elaborate! Nevertheless, raise the roof.
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