Henry Miller

Henry Miller was an American writer and one of the most important figures of the twentieth century. He was born in 1891 in New York City and was known for his frank and unflinching autobiographical works about his life and his experience in Paris during the twenties and thirties. Miller was a prolific and ground-breaking writer and had an extensive career that spanned over sixty years.

Miller was born to German-Jewish immigrants, and his father ran a tailor shop in Harlem. He was educated at City College of New York but dropped out after only two years of study in 1910. After staying at several jobs, he worked as a reader for the Western Importing Co. and began writing short stories. In 1923 he divorced his first wife and moved to Paris where he would spend the next ten years of his life. During this time he became involved in the bohemian lifestyle and wrote some of his best-known works, such as Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, and Black Spring.

Throughout his life, Miller wrote prolifically and was a master of the experimental novel. He wrote across many genres - including fiction, non-fiction, and autobiographical works. His writing was frequently brutally honest and unapologetic, and it touched on themes of sexuality, religion, and philosophy.

Miller was an infamous figure in his own time, due to his often candid and outspoken views. He was banned for many years in the United States for his daring works, and it was only through the efforts of writers such as William S. Burroughs and Lawrence Durrell that his works eventually became available in the states.

Miller was also a pivotal figure in the beat movement of the 1950s, and he corresponded with writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. He was an influence on the work of many contemporary writers, and he was also one of the first writers to speak out in support of women's rights, rejecting traditional gender roles.

Henry Miller died in 1980, but his legacy has endured. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, and his works continue to be studied and appreciated by readers around the globe. His works defy conventions and expectations, often featuring characters that rebel against the norms of society, and he remains a major influence on writers and thinkers today.