Alfred Perles

 

There's been a lot written by -- and about -- Henry Miller over the years. But I must say, there's a little gem of a book by Alfred Perles which is not to be missed. For the Miller enthusiast, Perles's chronicle is captivating: with clarity, and healthy dose of humor, Perles charts Miller's time in Paris, and then, ultimately, back in the States. All the characters are there, too: June, Anais, Lawrence, and others. This is a really fun book: I opened it at random and read a chapter here and another there. In the end, I finished the whole thing. Perles presents a lively, playful version of Miller -- one on a quest for something better, something more profound and authentic. For a reminder of why Miller matters, and how much fun he seems to have been as a writer and person, let me suggest Perles's account of those crazy years between the wars. (And just to say: Perles was an excellent writer in his own right: his is voice which has fully arrived.)