Tropic of Cancer

by Henry Miller
Tropic of Cancer cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 7892
  • Added: 2025-12-18
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • Published: 1961-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Henry Miller's 'Tropic of Cancer' is a seminal work of literary fiction that delves into the gritty and unvarnished reality of life in 1930s Paris. The novel follows the experiences of a young writer and his circle of friends as they navigate the challenges and freedoms of a bohemian lifestyle. Miller's prose is known for its candid and often controversial depictions of sex, poverty, and the human condition. /n/n The book is celebrated for its bold and unapologetic exploration of themes such as art, love, and the search for meaning. It is considered a classic of 20th-century literature and has had a significant impact on the development of modernist and postmodernist writing.

Reviews
Eric Rugara - Medium · Eric Rugara · 2019-02-22
intriguing 3.50

The book is a collection of experiences and thoughts rather than a traditional narrative. It is autobiographical but heavily influenced by the author's imagination.

Eric Rugara's review highlights that 'Tropic of Cancer' is not a conventional story but a series of experiences and thoughts. He appreciates the autobiographical elements, noting how Miller's imagination shapes the narrative. The book's raw and unfiltered style is both its strength and its challenge, making it a unique read. Rugara finds the book's honesty and vulnerability compelling, even if it's not a traditional story.

Quick quotes

    The book does not tell a story. It tells experiences and thoughts.

    It's autobiographical, though slanted and twisted by the writer's imagination.

    The book's raw and unfiltered style is both its strength and its challenge.

The Guardian · 2014-11-03
great 4.00

The book is considered a classic despite its initial controversy. Its literary merit is undeniable, and Miller's vision ultimately prevailed.

The Guardian's review places 'Tropic of Cancer' among the 100 best novels, acknowledging its controversial past and literary significance. They note that Miller's vision and philosophical outlook are central to the book's enduring appeal. The review suggests that the book's raw and unfiltered style, while challenging, is what makes it a classic. The Guardian appreciates the book's honesty and its ability to provoke thought and discussion.

Quick quotes

    Tropic of Cancer... is the lowest book of any real literary merit that I ever remember to have read.

    Miller's vision prevailed, in the end.

    The book's raw and unfiltered style, while challenging, is what makes it a classic.

The Independent · 2009-06-26
good 3.00

The book is described as rambling and flawed but with a lot of heart and vulnerability. It is seen as a diary of a living catastrophe.

The Independent's review describes 'Tropic of Cancer' as rambling, rambunctious, and flawed, but with a lot of heart and vulnerability. They see it as a diary of a living catastrophe, filled with raw and unfiltered emotions. The review appreciates the book's honesty and its ability to evoke strong emotions. Despite its flaws, the book's raw and unfiltered style is what makes it compelling and memorable.

Quick quotes

    Rambling, rambunctious, aimless, vain, flawed, with no methodology, a diary of a living catastrophe.

    It had more heart and vulnerability than any book I have read.

    The book's raw and unfiltered style is what makes it compelling and memorable.

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