Under the Roofs of Paris

by Henry Miller

Book Overview

In 1941, Henry Miller, the author of Tropic of Cancer, was commissioned by a Los Angeles bookseller to write an erotic novel for a dollar a page. Under the Roofs of Paris (originally published as Opus Pistorum) is that book. Here one finds Miller's characteristic candor, wit, self-mockery, and celebration of the good life. From Marcelle to Tania, to Alexandra, to Anna, and from the Left Bank to Pigalle, Miller sweeps us up...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802131832
• ISBN13: 9780802131836
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

The wildest Henry Miller yet

Henry Miller was your early 20th century writer of all time in my opinion. this book however is pretty hard to get sometimes and for good reason. It is a rare gem in that it ties in experience of debauch in the classic Henry Miller sense of sex and excess with epiphanies abloom. It is nice to read of a world where passion exists solely as a means of survival. You learn about what is possible and what is permissible and human nature at its base level and even loftiest attempts of experiencing and understanding why and what you are to be.

This is not appropriate for train reading.

This is like straight-up porn, for your imagination of course. There is virtually no story. If there is, it certainly gets overshadowed by all the sex. It took me long to read this, and it's because I couldn't get over what was going on. There'd be single paragraphs which I'd read over and over... I guess I couldn't believe my eyes. To think up these things is one thing, but to see it written out, is another entirely. This was one of my train-reading books... while I was commuting to work, I'd read on the train. I read THIS book on the train. I'm a lady. I could never divulge the sort of things I had to do before heading to jobs after reading parts of this book. You can physically feel the things that are going on. It's sick, in a good way. If you're up for any of the things mentioned in here, I'd say this book might make a GREAT gift as well. I highly recommend it.

If you're not turned on while reading this book ...

... then you need to go to your friendly back-alley novelty store to get yourself a quick fix! This is the first sexy Miller book I've read. (My first read was "Big Sur and the Oranges ...") Page by page, you'll find explicit scenes of unheard of acts of raw sex. ... The side effects of reading "Under the Roofs of Paris" are hard-ons, extreme moisture, and an ever-lasting hunger for that which we most crave. It's easy and fun to read. The language, though very blunt, makes this a quick page turner. Do your sexy side a favor and read Henry Miller.

Turn to any page randomly...

I actually tried this trick with several friends: Ask someone to open the book to any page and begin reading aloud. More than likely, they will only read a line or two before blushing. Although they cease reading aloud, they will usually smile and continue reading silently before replying. This trick says a lot about how many people approach this book. People don't want to admit that they like it, but if nothing else, find it interesting. Midget-boinking, statuatory rape, and gang-banging- certainly no one would consider these EROTIC! Depending on how one defines PORNOGRAPHY... actually, no matter HOW you define it, this book fits! Just keep in mind, this book is a collection of stories. Miller is famous (or infamous) for fabricating. (Read Brassai- "The Paris Years")My point? Don't make too much out of the 'dirty' aspect of this book. There is some really good writing worth finding- if you can stomach page after page of 'porn'.

This book will keep you up all night

Because Miller wrote this for an LA purveyor of smut in 1941 for a dollar per page, you can bet there's a payoff at every turn. Predating Lolita by 14 years, the first few pages, while addressing similar September-May relations, makes Nabokov's masterpiece seem puritanical by comparison. There's no real story here, but vivid descriptions and outrageous situations makes this a stimulating read. Great to share with a loved one. A must for Miller fans and for those seeking sexy textual thrills.