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Loading... The Diary Of Anais Nin, Volume 3 (1939-1944)by Anaïs Nin
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The third volume of "one of the most remarkable diaries in the history of letters" (Los Angeles Times). This candid volume from the renowned diarist covers her years of struggle, and eventual triumph, as an author in America during World War II. "Transcending mere self-revelation . . . the diary examines human personality with a depth and understanding seldom surpassed since Proust . . . dream and fact are balanced and . . . in their joining lie the elements of masterpiece." --The Washington Post "Just one page of Nin's extraordinary diaries contains more sex, melodrama, fantasies, confessions, and observations than most novels, and reflects much about the human psyche we strive to repress." --Booklist Edited and with a preface by Gunther Stuhlmann No library descriptions found. |
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The pressure on her to be the relatively wealthy benefactor to her parasitic hanger-on artiste pals is finally getting to her. She finally acknowledges why she allows them to often leave her penniless and for her to have to scrounge for her own day to day living. For example, Miller is gallivanting around the US and telling her that he needs her to send him ten bucks so he can buy someone a birthday present (or something to that effect; reading his letter made my eyes glaze over in darkness and rage at his entitlement).
I really enjoyed reading the section where she bought (ostensibly for Gonzalo) a printing press and is printing Winter of Artifice herself. I loved her description of the mechanics and how the process of typesetting made her even more ruthlessly self-edit. Interestingly, Nin references her husband in these sections but never as her husband and only by his artistic pseudonym Ian Hugo who does the beautiful plates for her books. Perhaps some day I'll read the unexpurgated diaries so I can find out what Hugh was up to.
Of all her intense friendships so far, my favourite is Frances Brown. I couldn't find any information about her online but her story (as told - in her own words or paraphrased by Nin? - in the diary) is some real romanticised impoverished childhood like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. But somehow she is mentally and monetarily more healthy and less parasitic than Nin's other friendships.
Two characters I need to know more about: Seon Gibben who Nin said can do higher mathematics, and Frances Steloff whose documentary Memoirs of a Bookseller I'd love to watch. ( )