Tropic of Cancer - Henry Miller

Tropic of Cancer was first published in 1934 by Obelisk Press in Paris. Its publication in 1961 in the United States by Grove Press led to an obscenity trial that was one of several that tested American laws on pornography in the 1960s.

As a result, the books were frequently smuggled into the States, where they would prove to be a major influence on the new Beat generation of American writers (most notably Jack Kerouac) some of whom would adopt stylistic and thematic principles found in Miller's oeuvre.

While famous for its frank and often graphic depiction of sex, the book is also widely regarded as an important masterpiece of 20th century literature. Time magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.

The novel included a preface credited to Anaïs Nin (although allegedly penned by Miller himself). The book was famously distributed by Frances Steloff at her Gotham Book Mart, in defiance of censorship pressures.