Description:

Henry Miller
n.p., August 25, 1978
Henry Miller Holograph Essay on America " we are...loony as bed bugs, destructive as lice and other vermin"
MS
A six-page holograph manuscript entitled "America America" by Henry Miller. 6pp, measuring 8.5" x 11", n.p., dated August 25, 1978. Signed and dated on the final page "Henry Miller." The manuscript is Miller's review of a photographic documentary of the American continent and its denizens by a pair of European travelers. Perhaps typically, Miller names neither the book nor its authors, and he speaks little about the actual contents. His focus, instead, is on the willful ignorance of the American populace, the egregious mistreatment, marginalization, and misunderstanding of the Native Americans, Blacks, and the "hillbilly and other so-called ‘backward' people." Pages slightly age-toned, with rust stains from a paperclip on recto of page 1 and verso of page 6. Boldly signed. Very good overall.

In part:

"…Do Americans know their America, that is the question. From my own experience in dealing with my compatriots I would say no, or very poorly. How many have left their native state or even city? It costs money to travel today and most Americans, supposedly so well off, cannot afford to do it. A further legitimate question would be - do they care to know their own country. As everyone is well aware, it is dangerous to travel about in the big cities…The hillbillies of the deep South have not lost their warmth, their hospitality, their carefree nature. The blacks and the Mexicans play a predominant role in our life. The American Indian is still an exile in his own land, the land we robbed him of…Despite all the misery which is rampant in our country the eyes of the poor foreigner are still on this country. It does not take long for them to be disillusioned. Oddly enough, it is this same foreigner who is the backbone of America. We ae all foreigners at bottom; all but the Indians who we have never treated decently…Over a hundred years ago, our greatest American writer Walt Whitman declared we were well on our way to becoming a nation of lunatics. We are no longer becoming - we are there, loony as bed bugs, destructive as lice and other vermin, knowing neither place, repose nor contentment."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: MS

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