Incest (book)
Encyclopedia
Incest: From a Journal of Love: The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin (1932–1934) is a 1992 non-fiction book by Anaïs Nin
. It is a continuation of the diary entries first published in Henry and June: From the Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin
. It features Nin's relationships with writer Henry Miller
, his wife June Miller
, the psychoanalyst Otto Rank
, her father Joaquín Nin
, and her husband Hugh Parker Guiler
. She also copied some of her correspondence with these people into her diary. Much of this book was written in English
, although those of her letters which were originally written in French
and Spanish
were translated. Most of this diary takes place in France
, particularly Clichy
, Paris
and Louveciennes
.
This book is followed by Fire: From a Journal of Love: The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1934–1937.
movement, the psychoanalysis
movement, and the expatriate
community in Paris, and these intellectual influences upon her are evident in her diary entries. As well as providing a personal record of events, her diaries also chronicle the writing of various works including the novella Djuna from Winter of Artifice
and Alraune which was later titled House of Incest
. She edited Henry Miller's famous novel Tropic of Cancer
, over which she wielded considerable influence.
in 1966, omitting many details of her personal and love life. In 1986, after virtually everybody mentioned in her diaries had died, Rupert Pole
, Nin's widower, began to publish what are now termed the "unexpurgated" versions of the diary. The "unexpurgated" versions of the diaries are more sexually frank than the versions published in the 1960s and 1970s, and provide a fuller picture of her life. The new material casts her incestuous relationship with her father and her relationship with Henry Miller in new light.
Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death, her erotic literature, and short stories...
. It is a continuation of the diary entries first published in Henry and June: From the Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin
Henry and June
Henry and June: From the Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin is a 1986 book that is based upon material excerpted from the unpublished diaries of Anais Nin...
. It features Nin's relationships with writer Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
, his wife June Miller
June Miller
June Mansfield Miller was the much-written-about and discussed second wife of Henry Miller.- Early life :...
, the psychoanalyst Otto Rank
Otto Rank
Otto Rank was an Austrian psychoanalyst, writer, teacher and therapist. Born in Vienna as Otto Rosenfeld, he was one of Sigmund Freud's closest colleagues for 20 years, a prolific writer on psychoanalytic themes, an editor of the two most important analytic journals, managing director of Freud's...
, her father Joaquín Nin
Joaquin Nin
Joaquín Nin y Castellanos was a Spanish-Cuban pianist and composer.-Biography:Nin studied piano with Moritz Moszkowski and composition at the Schola Cantorum . He toured as a pianist and was known as a composer and arranger of popular Spanish folk music...
, and her husband Hugh Parker Guiler
Hugh Parker Guiler
Hugh Parker Guiler also known as Ian Hugo was Anaïs Nin's husband from 1923 until her death in 1977, and a skilled engraver and filmmaker in his own right.-Biography:...
. She also copied some of her correspondence with these people into her diary. Much of this book was written in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, although those of her letters which were originally written in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
were translated. Most of this diary takes place in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, particularly Clichy
Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine
-Administration:The canton covers a part of the commune; the other is in the northern part of Levallois-Perret-Twinnings: Heidenheim, Germany, since 1959 Sankt Pölten, Austria, since 1968 Santo Tirso, Portugal, since 1991 Rubí, Spain, since 2005 Southwark, United Kingdom, since 2005Clichy has also...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Louveciennes
Louveciennes
Louveciennes is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, between Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and adjacent to Marly-le-Roi.-Sights:...
.
This book is followed by Fire: From a Journal of Love: The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1934–1937.
Plot summary
The book covers the conclusion of her and Henry's relationship with June, as well as her relationships with her analysts. Among other events, she re-establishes contact with her absent father Joaquín Nin, becomes pregnant with Miller's child and eventually has an abortion in her sixth month of pregnancy. She examines all of these events with a sharp eye through the filters of psychoanalysis, and herself becomes an experiment for psychoanalysis by symbolically appointing her husband Hugh Guiler as her father, Henry Miller as her husband, and her father as her lover.Influences
Nin was in the midst of the surrealismSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
movement, the psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
movement, and the expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
community in Paris, and these intellectual influences upon her are evident in her diary entries. As well as providing a personal record of events, her diaries also chronicle the writing of various works including the novella Djuna from Winter of Artifice
Winter of Artifice
Winter of Artifice, published in 1939, is Anaïs Nin's second published book, containing subsequently alternating novelettes.-1939 Edition:...
and Alraune which was later titled House of Incest
House of Incest
House of Incest is a slim volume of 72 pages written by Anaïs Nin. Originally published in 1936, it is Anaïs Nin's first work of fiction. But unlike her diaries and erotica, House of Incest does not detail the author's relationships with famous lovers like Henry Miller, nor does it contain graphic...
. She edited Henry Miller's famous novel Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer (novel)
Tropic of Cancer is a novel by Henry Miller which has been described as "notorious for its candid sexuality" and as responsible for the "free speech that we now take for granted in literature." It was first published in 1934 by the Obelisk Press in Paris, France, but this edition was banned in the...
, over which she wielded considerable influence.
Editions
Anaïs Nin first began publishing expurgated versions of The Diary of Anaïs NinThe Diary of Anaïs Nin
The Diary of Anaïs Nin is the published version of Anaïs Nin's own private manuscript diary, which she began at age 11 in 1914 during a trip from Europe to New York with her mother and two brothers...
in 1966, omitting many details of her personal and love life. In 1986, after virtually everybody mentioned in her diaries had died, Rupert Pole
Rupert Pole
Rupert Pole was a husband of Anaïs Nin, and her literary executor.Pole was born in Los Angeles. His father Reginald was a highly regarded Shakespearean actor...
, Nin's widower, began to publish what are now termed the "unexpurgated" versions of the diary. The "unexpurgated" versions of the diaries are more sexually frank than the versions published in the 1960s and 1970s, and provide a fuller picture of her life. The new material casts her incestuous relationship with her father and her relationship with Henry Miller in new light.