Customer Reviews

Crazy Cock

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Crazy Cock is Henry Miller's third full length novel and it tells the tale of the triangle between Henry, June and Mara Andrews (aka Jean Kronski). The novel is not very well written, filled with pedantic, prolix and baroque passages, as Miller struggles mightily to find his voice. Miller fans will find this work quite interesting, as it is another variation on The Rosy Crucifixion. However, this book is definately not a good place to start your journey through the works of Henry Miller, as there are many better places to begin (Tropic of Cancer, Air Conditioned Nightmare) your journey.

I am glad "Crazy Cock" was printed, because now it is possible for all of us to know what it takes to make a work of art -- that is a lot of hard work. I recommend reading "Sexus", or "Tropic of Cancer" before reading Crazy Cock, since the book itself does not stand up as a work of art. Crazy Cock is a failure as literature, but it is worth the effort to read through it if one has a creative mind which needs inspiration. The work does show Miller's desperate struggle to find a voice, and what is more inspiring is the fact that he found it.

This book is a good introduction to Henry's writing. Though if you've read his better stuff ala Black Spring The Tropics, like me, you're probably going to be at least a bit disappointed and want to hurry through it instead of savor his writing like usual.

Miller is undeniably one of the literary giants. This is a wonderful and enlightening insight into his sourjorn to that height. It's far from perfect, but to any hardcore Miller fan it will be a treat. They will get a real sense of "the master" chipping away at the almost singular stone that would forever be his muse.

a prelude to te tropic novels. a journey to the buildup to the better books afterwards