Henry Miller

Date of Birth: December 26, 1891

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: June 7, 1980

Biography

Henry Valentine Miller was an American writer known for his controversial and often explicit works that broke new ground in literary form and content. Born in New York City, Miller’s early life was marked by a series of odd jobs, failed marriages, and a relentless pursuit of personal and artistic freedom. He is best known for his semi-autobiographical novels such as “Tropic of Cancer,” “Tropic of Capricorn,” and “Black Spring,” which combine elements of memoir, fiction, and social criticism. His works were initially banned in the United States due to their explicit content, sparking significant legal battles over issues of censorship and free speech. Miller spent a significant portion of his life in Paris, where he became part of a circle of expatriate artists and writers. Later in life, he lived in Big Sur, California, where he continued to write and paint until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Henry Miller

1. Henry Miller’s first major work, “Tropic of Cancer,” was banned in the United States for nearly 30 years due to its explicit content.

2. Miller was a close friend of renowned authors Anaïs Nin and Lawrence Durrell, both of whom had a significant influence on his work.

3. He spent several years living in Paris in the 1930s, where he developed his unique style and wrote many of his most famous works.

4. Miller was also a talented painter and had several exhibitions of his watercolors during his lifetime.

5. His book “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare” is a critical examination of American culture, based on a cross-country trip he took after returning to the U.S.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry Miller

1. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

2. “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.”

3. “The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love.”

4. “In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest.”

5. “Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Henry Miller’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, a significant amount for an author in his time.

Children

Henry Miller had three children: Barbara Miller, born from his marriage to June Mansfield, and two children, Tony and Val, from his marriage to Janina Martha Lepska.