Tropique du Capricorne (Tropic of Capricorn) – Henry Miller (1946 French Edition)
Originally published in English in 1939 but banned in the US until 1961, Tropic of Capricorn is Henry Miller’s semi-autobiographical novel that chronicles his bohemian years in 1920s New York, blending raw sexuality, philosophical rants, and scathing critiques of American society. The 1946 French edition—released by Obelisk Press in Paris (following their earlier publication of Tropic of Cancer)—allowed Miller’s unfiltered prose to reach European audiences years before US censorship waned. The novel’s stream-of-consciousness style and graphic depictions of sex, poverty, and artistic rebellion cemented Miller’s reputation as a literary provocateur.
Notable Aspects:
- Censorship History: The 1946 French edition circumvented US obscenity laws that persisted until the 1960s.
- Style: Miller’s visceral, nonlinear narrative influenced the Beat Generation.
- Sequel/Prequel: Acts as a loose follow-up to Tropic of Cancer (1934), though written later.
If You Appreciate Miller’s Provocations:
- Black Spring (Miller, 1936) – More vignettes of his Brooklyn and Paris years.
- Naked Lunch (William S. Burroughs, 1959) – Equally confrontational and surreal.
- On the Road (Jack Kerouac, 1957) – Beat Generation’s answer to Miller’s restless energy.
Note: Collectors prize early Obelisk Press editions for their historical defiance of censorship.
