The Obelisk Trilogy: Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Black Spring Miller

Black Spring by Henry Hiller I just finished reading Henry Miller’s “Black Spring,” the third book of The Obelisk Trilogy. It is a collections of semi-autobiographical stories set in Brooklyn, across America, and Paris. In “Black Spring” Henry drives home his disdain for the rot that the industrial/modern life has brought upon man. He sees modern man as an automaton, no more. “In the early evening, when death rattles the spine, the crowd moves compact, elbow to elbow, each member of the great herd driven by loneliness; breast to breast toward the wall of self, frustrate, isolate, sardine upon sardine, all seeking the universal can opener.” Life in Henry Miller’s modern America, life is bleak and you should take what you please. Henry did just that. Henry plays the self righteous pig al too well. He closes “Black Spring” with these words, “Tomorrow you may bring about the destruction of your world. Tomorrow you may sing in Paradise above the smoking ruins of your world-cities. But tonight I would like to think of one man, a lone individual, a man without name or country, a man whom I respect because he has absolutely nothing in common with you—MYSELF. Tonight I shall meditate upon that which l am. Louveciennes;—Clichy;—Villa Seurat. 1934-1935.”

Woopty dooooooooooo