Montparnasse
Tschann Libraire
A visitor to the Tschann bookstore in December 1934 would have been greeted by a unique display in the shop’s window: a green and black illustration depicting a woman being devoured by a giant crab which adorned the cover of Miller’s newly published Tropic of Cancer…
Le Viking
In the spring of 1932, Miller and Anaïs Nin met at the Viking for a succession of intimate conversations which led to the consummation of their love affair…
La Rotonde
Henry Miller made himself at home on the terrace of the Rotonde where, over a glass of Pernod, he might be found having an animated argument with his wife, June, or writing letters to friends…
Le Select
Le Select opened its doors in 1925 and was the first Montparnasse café to remain open all night. The air of sexual freedom permeating Montparnasse between the world wars was nowhere more evident than at the Select…
La Coupole
The year 1931 began with a bang for Henry Miller. Following a New Years Eve party at the Coupole, his taxi veered out of control at high speed and crashed head-on into another car…
Le Dôme
In April 1930, just one month into his stay in Paris, Miller sat alone on the terrace of the Dôme waiting for someone to rescue him. He was broke, the money he expected his wife to send from New York had not arrived and he had no place to sleep for the night…
rue Delambre
The rue Delambre was once a major thoroughfare of prominent artists between the world wars. Man Ray had a small studio on this street and Andre Breton lived here for a time as well. In April 1925, Ernest Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald were introduced at a bar called Le Dingo…
Le Sphinx
On the boulevard Edgar Quinet once stood an extravagant Art Deco brothel with a magnificent bar, Egyptian-themed rooms and cabaret entertainment. The Sphinx opened in 1930 with much fanfare and invitations were sent out to all the notables in Montparnasse…
Hôtel Central
It was from the Hôtel Central that Henry Miller would date two of the most momentous events of his life in Paris. One was the beginning of his love affair with Anaïs Nin. The other was his decision to begin writing a book that would become Tropic of Cancer.
Café de la Liberté
Henry Miller discovered the Café de la Liberté shortly after his arrival in Paris in 1930. At the time, he was living just around the corner at the Hôtel Central and a stop at the café became part of his daily routine. Each afternoon he returned carrying a French novel and a dictionary, making slow progress through a story that had gripped his imagination.
