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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Some violence in the rough urban New York setting
Language
A lot
Strong language throughout; Miller's style is deliberately raw
Sexual Content
Very heavy
Explicit sexual content throughout; Miller's treatment of women is consistently objectifying
Substance Use
Some
Significant drinking and some drug use in the bohemian New York setting
Emotional Intensity
Some
The philosophical musings on the dehumanization of modern work and life are present but secondary to the sexual content
What this book is about
Henry Miller's 1938 semi-autobiographical novel is set in New York and covers his life before he went to Paris — his time at Western Union, his sexual adventures, and his philosophical musings. Less celebrated than Tropic of Cancer but equally explicit. Miller writes about sex with a frankness that was banned for decades in the US and remains confrontational. The explicit content is present throughout. For literary readers interested in the tradition of transgressive autobiography.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Explicit sexual content throughout
Objectifying depiction of women
Reader Verification
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