{"product_id":"the-books-in-my-life-9780811201087","title":"The Books in My Life","description":"Some writers attempt to conceal the literary influences which have shaped their thinking--but not Henry Miller. In \u003cem\u003eThe Books in My Life\u003c\/em\u003e he shares the thrills of discovery that many kinds of books have brought to a keenly curious and questioning mind. Some of Miller's favorite writers are the giants whom most of us revere--authors such as Dostoeyvsky, Boccaccio, Walt Whitman, James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Lao-Tse. To them he brings fresh and penetrating insights. But many are lesser-known figures: Krishnamurti, the prophet-sage; the French contemporaries Blaise Cendrars and Jean Giono; Richard Jeffries, who wrote \u003cem\u003eThe Story of My Heart\u003c\/em\u003e; the Welshman John Cowper Powys; and scores of others. \u003cem\u003eThe Books in My Life\u003c\/em\u003e contains some fine autobiographical chapters, too. Miller describes his boyhood in Brooklyn, when he devoured the historical stories of G. A. Henty and the romances of Rider Haggard. He tells of the men and women whom he regards as living books: Lou Jacobs, W. E. B. DuBois, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, and others. He offers his reminiscences of the New York Theatre in the early 1900's--including plays such as \u003cem\u003eAlias Jimmy Valentine\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNellie\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ethe Beautiful Cloak Model\u003c\/em\u003e. And finally, in Miller's best vein of humor, he provides a satiric chapter on bathroom reading. In an appendix, Miller lists the hundred books that have influenced him most.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMiller, Henry:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eHenry Miller\u003c\/strong\u003e (1891--1980) was one of the most controversial American novelists during his lifetime. His book, \u003cem\u003eThe Tropic of Cancer\u003c\/em\u003e, was banned in the some U.S. states before being overruled by the Supreme Court. New Directions publishes several of his books.","brand":"New Directions Publishing Corporation","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50631637172498,"sku":"9780811201087","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_d17daf22-2c20-43e3-bfb7-8ff4a27be974.jpg?v=1732778603","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-books-in-my-life-9780811201087","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}