Comments on: Villa Seurat http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:07:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Jones http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-444 Michael Jones Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:13:06 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-444 Lately I came across a site titled "sivilarkitekt mnal richard engelbrektson - 18 villa seurat," and which shows a photograph taken from the top floor of No 18 looking out across some rooftops. I don't need to tell connoisseurs of TC of the rare find this is, and especially in the light that the only photograph of any of the interiors published to date, is the one that appeared on RC's site in January of 2006 by Miller's neighbour Arnaud de Maigret. As people will see the three photographs are a variation of the same view, but with a picture of the door of No 18 itself as part of the set it would seem that we can take it that the interior is definitely part of the same building. The first thing I done was to line the two pictures up, but this was hard because going through the commentary on RC's site I noticed that there was a discrepancy over the authenticity of the location, but that writing on the wall had to be Henry's. The windows in the two photographs definitely didn't fit, but I also realized that there could be others on the same floor. I then looked down to the street level from the Google Satellite, and comparing the colour of the gravel and shape of the buildings opposite coupled with the red brick roof of the building to the right, I was soon able to locate the view as looking towards Nos 19-21 on the rue de l'Aude on the northern side. So this gave us windows directly opposite each other on one side of the building, and which now gave more credence to the windows in the Maigret photograph as being on the Villa Seurat side. This was on course if there weren't other windows to the sides of these, but until we have photographs from opposite sides of the building from that level no one will know. A close-up of the building that I viewed from the front on Flickr seemed to reveal panes that had been cut off from the bottom to form other panes, but as looks can also be deceptive this view would also suggest that this was where Maigret took his photograph. Lately I came across a site titled “sivilarkitekt mnal richard engelbrektson – 18 villa seurat,” and which shows a photograph taken from the top floor of No 18 looking out across some rooftops. I don’t need to tell connoisseurs of TC of the rare find this is, and especially in the light that the only photograph of any of the interiors published to date, is the one that appeared on RC’s site in January of 2006 by Miller’s neighbour Arnaud de Maigret. As people will see the three photographs are a variation of the same view, but with a picture of the door of No 18 itself as part of the set it would seem that we can take it that the interior is definitely part of the same building. The first thing I done was to line the two pictures up, but this was hard because going through the commentary on RC’s site I noticed that there was a discrepancy over the authenticity of the location, but that writing on the wall had to be Henry’s. The windows in the two photographs definitely didn’t fit, but I also realized that there could be others on the same floor. I then looked down to the street level from the Google Satellite, and comparing the colour of the gravel and shape of the buildings opposite coupled with the red brick roof of the building to the right, I was soon able to locate the view as looking towards Nos 19-21 on the rue de l’Aude on the northern side. So this gave us windows directly opposite each other on one side of the building, and which now gave more credence to the windows in the Maigret photograph as being on the Villa Seurat side. This was on course if there weren’t other windows to the sides of these, but until we have photographs from opposite sides of the building from that level no one will know. A close-up of the building that I viewed from the front on Flickr seemed to reveal panes that had been cut off from the bottom to form other panes, but as looks can also be deceptive this view would also suggest that this was where Maigret took his photograph.

]]> By: Stefan Carapiet http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-27 Stefan Carapiet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-27 Wonderfully informative about HM. and his doings. But the chronology remains a bit baffling - I suspect Miller of deliberately confusing it. If he stayed the first time at Villa Seurat in 'summer 1931' (he says October the somethingth), then why does he say about 30 pages later 'Spring came in like a frozen hare' . If it was spring '31, this reverses the chronology. If it was '32,(after he'd been in Dijon) this would make even less sense. I suspect him of deliberately confusing times to add to the sense of chaos and discontinuity of the book. Wonderfully informative about HM. and his doings. But the chronology remains a bit baffling – I suspect Miller of deliberately confusing it. If he stayed the first time at Villa Seurat in ‘summer 1931′ (he says October the somethingth), then why does he say about 30 pages later ‘Spring came in like a frozen hare’ . If it was spring ’31, this reverses the chronology. If it was ’32,(after he’d been in Dijon) this would make even less sense. I suspect him of deliberately confusing times to add to the sense of chaos and discontinuity of the book.

]]> By: Stefan Carapiet (UK) http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-29 Stefan Carapiet (UK) Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-29 Hello Kreg, Thanks for all your info. I can see you've really gone into the subject -I'm amazed, How did you find out all those accurate details ? So the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer in 'June' (a name to conjure with !) Maybe I can add to the elucidation/confusion. You seem sure that Miller stayed with Osborne in 30-31, but I'm fairly sure, from memory, that both in the Snyder film book and in the 1960's 'Miller Reader' chronology done by himself, he says it was 31-32. Maybe he was lying or forgetful ? (Also couldn't it be possible that he stayed with Osborne till about Christmas Day when they 'came back with two negresses from the phone company' (lucky bastard), then he went to Dijon in January. Very possibly you're right about a grand time-structure behind it all, but it seems to me its quite possible the whole thing is aimed at creating maximum confusion and disorientation of time and place : he pops up here , there and everywhere in the book without any continuity. I've just reread it and been struck by its Nietzchean elements : the Dionysiac chaos. Regards, Stefan Carapiet (PS I lived in Paris for a year in the 70's at Porte de Clichy, near to Millers place there. Hello Kreg,

Thanks for all your info. I can see you’ve really gone into the subject -I’m amazed, How did you find out all those accurate details ?

So the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer in ‘June’ (a name to conjure with !)

Maybe I can add to the elucidation/confusion. You seem sure that Miller stayed with Osborne in 30-31, but I’m fairly sure, from memory, that both in the Snyder film book and in the 1960′s ‘Miller Reader’ chronology done by himself, he says it was 31-32. Maybe he was lying or forgetful ?

(Also couldn’t it be possible that he stayed with Osborne till about Christmas Day when they ‘came back with two negresses from the phone company’ (lucky bastard), then he went to Dijon in January.

Very possibly you’re right about a grand time-structure behind it all, but it seems to me its quite possible the whole thing is aimed at creating maximum confusion and disorientation of time and place : he pops up here , there and everywhere in the book without any continuity. I’ve just reread it and been struck by its Nietzchean elements : the Dionysiac chaos.

Regards, Stefan Carapiet

(PS I lived in Paris for a year in the 70′s at Porte de Clichy, near to Millers place there.

]]> By: Kreg Wallace http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-30 Kreg Wallace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-30 Well, I don't have any of the Miller biographies close to hand to check the dates of his stay with Osborn for certain. I do have <em>Letters to Emil</em> here though and it contains two of Miller's letters, - from December 14, 1930 and February 16, 1931, which have Osborn's apartment on rue Auguste Bartholdi as the return address. Also, his first mention of his experience in Dijon in those letters is from April 1932. Who knows - certainly <em>Tropic of Cancer</em> follows his real life only loosely and was not intended as straight autobiography. A bit from <em>Tropic of Cancer</em> that seems to hit these themes of a confusion of dates and Dionysian chaos: <blockquote> It is the twenty-somethingth of October. I no longer keep track of the date. Would you say—my dream of the 14th November last? There are intervals, but they are between dreams, and there is no consciousness of them left. The world around me is dissolving, leaving here and there spots of time. The world is a cancer eating itself away. . . .I am thinking that when the great silence descends upon all and everywhere music will at last triumph. When into the womb of time everything is again withdrawn chaos will be restored and chaos is the score upon which reality is written. You, Tania, are my chaos. It is why I sing. It is not even I, it is the world dying. shedding the skin of time. I am still alive, kicking in your womb, a reality to write upon. </blockquote> Well, I don’t have any of the Miller biographies close to hand to check the dates of his stay with Osborn for certain. I do have Letters to Emil here though and it contains two of Miller’s letters, – from December 14, 1930 and February 16, 1931, which have Osborn’s apartment on rue Auguste Bartholdi as the return address. Also, his first mention of his experience in Dijon in those letters is from April 1932. Who knows – certainly Tropic of Cancer follows his real life only loosely and was not intended as straight autobiography. A bit from Tropic of Cancer that seems to hit these themes of a confusion of dates and Dionysian chaos:

It is the twenty-somethingth of October. I no longer keep track of the date. Would you say—my dream of the 14th November last? There are intervals, but they are between dreams, and there is no consciousness of them left. The world around me is dissolving, leaving here and there spots of time. The world is a cancer eating itself away. . . .I am thinking that when the great silence descends upon all and everywhere music will at last triumph. When into the womb of time everything is again withdrawn chaos will be restored and chaos is the score upon which reality is written. You, Tania, are my chaos. It is why I sing. It is not even I, it is the world dying. shedding the skin of time. I am still alive, kicking in your womb, a reality to write upon.

]]> By: Stefan Carapiet http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-31 Stefan Carapiet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-31 Hello Kreg. Thanks for that. Yes, those dates from 'Letters to Emil' seem to definitely prove he was there in Osborn's place in 30-31, I checked it out last night in his self-compiled biog. in the 'Miller Reader', and he says it was in 31-32. So he maybe just got confused, or deliberately confused it. I had another idea for your locations : how about the spot on the Seine near the Porte d'Auteuil and Pont de Sevres (15eme) where Cancer has its great ending? Since you seem so well-informed on the subject, maybe you could tell me exactly where in Emerson's writings is to be found the quote Miller puts at the beginning of Cancer about 'These novels will give way to diaries....' (I quote from memory). Do you know if it's from Emerson's 'Representative Men'. I've always wondered... The other day I located in London the house, about 20 mins from me, at 27 Letterstone Road, Fulham, London, from where Daphne Fraenkel published 'Hamlet' in 1962, and presumably where Michael Fraenkel died in 1957. (you could add a London section...) I originally found your site by accident. I was trying to find out where Alfred Perles had lived when he came to live in London in about 1940. I think it was somewhere in north London. Any ideas how I can find out ? It doesn't seem to be on the Perles biography sites. Best wishes, Stefan Carapiet Hello Kreg. Thanks for that.

Yes, those dates from ‘Letters to Emil’ seem to definitely prove he was there in Osborn’s place in 30-31, I checked it out last night in his self-compiled biog. in the ‘Miller Reader’, and he says it was in 31-32. So he maybe just got confused, or deliberately confused it.

I had another idea for your locations : how about the spot on the Seine near the Porte d’Auteuil and Pont de Sevres (15eme) where Cancer has its great ending?

Since you seem so well-informed on the subject, maybe you could tell me exactly where in Emerson’s writings is to be found the quote Miller puts at the beginning of Cancer about ‘These novels will give way to diaries….’ (I quote from memory). Do you know if it’s from Emerson’s ‘Representative Men’. I’ve always wondered…

The other day I located in London the house, about 20 mins from me, at 27 Letterstone Road, Fulham, London, from where Daphne Fraenkel published ‘Hamlet’ in 1962, and presumably where Michael Fraenkel died in 1957.

(you could add a London section…)

I originally found your site by accident. I was trying to find out where Alfred Perles had lived when he came to live in London in about 1940. I think it was somewhere in north London. Any ideas how I can find out ? It doesn’t seem to be on the Perles biography sites.

Best wishes, Stefan Carapiet

]]> By: Stefan Carapiet http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-33 Stefan Carapiet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-33 Hello Kreg By accident, I found out where Perles lived in London - it's 69 Parliament Hill,Hampstead, London NW3. I bought a signed by Perles copy of 'Art and Outrage', dated 1959, and he'd written his address in it ! Hello Kreg
By accident, I found out where Perles lived in London – it’s 69 Parliament Hill,Hampstead, London NW3. I bought a signed by Perles copy of ‘Art and Outrage’, dated 1959, and he’d written his address in it !

]]> By: Kreg Wallace http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-34 Kreg Wallace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-34 Hey, that's quite a find. It's strange how things work out some times. Thanks for posting the address. Hey, that’s quite a find. It’s strange how things work out some times. Thanks for posting the address.

]]> By: silvia http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-35 silvia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-35 wow! I'm just a dilettante, but reading this "dialogue" I start to consider giving up dentistry and devoting my self to literature and philosophy! you just keep sharing like this, for me it's a real treat, and I wanted to express my gratitude. thanks! wow! I’m just a dilettante, but reading this “dialogue” I start to consider giving up dentistry and devoting my self to literature and philosophy! you just keep sharing like this, for me it’s a real treat, and I wanted to express my gratitude. thanks!

]]> By: Julia Logan http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-37 Julia Logan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-37 You write that Anais Nin "initially" paid the rent. You don't need the adverb there. She paid the rent the whole time he was there. Not to mention feeding him and paying for his dentist, clothing, coats, and eye glasses! He could never have lived there otherwise, it was far too expensive. You write that Anais Nin “initially” paid the rent. You don’t need the adverb there. She paid the rent the whole time he was there. Not to mention feeding him and paying for his dentist, clothing, coats, and eye glasses! He could never have lived there otherwise, it was far too expensive.

]]> By: Kreg Wallace http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-38 Kreg Wallace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.millerwalks.com/content/villa-seurat#comment-38 Julia, You're likely correct that Nin paid Miller's rent throughout his stay at th Villa Seurat, but I haven't come across documentation to support that. Miller was bringing in some money from his books during this time and he had other benefactors. In any case, I do think you're right that Nin's contributions made up the bulk of Miller's cashflow during this period. Julia,

You’re likely correct that Nin paid Miller’s rent throughout his stay at th Villa Seurat, but I haven’t come across documentation to support that. Miller was bringing in some money from his books during this time and he had other benefactors. In any case, I do think you’re right that Nin’s contributions made up the bulk of Miller’s cashflow during this period.

]]>