Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
The book is a semi-autobiographical novel set in 1930s Paris and describes the protagonist's life as a struggling writer. The narrative is filled with vivid descriptions of the city, sexual encounters, and philosophical musings, all penned in a stream-of-consciousness style. The protagonist's experiences living in poverty, his relationships with other expatriates, and his pursuit of artistic freedom are central to the story. Despite the explicit content, the novel is noted for its candid exploration of the human condition and the author's quest for personal and creative authenticity.
The 284th greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 11th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 37th on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 50th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 64th on The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Folha de São Paulo)
- 84th on Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels (Radcliffe Publishing Course)
- 88th on 100 Essential Books (Bravo! Magazine)
- 376th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 403rd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 (nextavenue)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read (Esquire)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)