June Miller
Encyclopedia
June Mansfield Miller (http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/AZMARICO/2005-04/1114772265) was the much-written-about and discussed second wife of Henry Miller
.
, Austria-Hungary
(of Romanian Gypsy origin as mentioned in Sexus) as either Juliet Smerth or Juliet Smerdt, the daughter of Wilhelm and Frances Budd Smerth. She emigrated with her family to the United States
and arrived there on July 10, 1907, aged five.
She would reside in New York City
for much of the rest of her life, excepting a tour of Europe and stints in Paris
.
She attended public school in New York. In Sexus, Henry Miller writes that June claimed she graduated from Wellesley College, but in Nexus, he writes that she never finished high school. Kenneth Dick, after interviewing June, quotes her as saying "My formal education amounted to about three and a half years of High School. I was working on a scholarship to Hunter College
." Somewhere around 1917–1919, she went to work as a taxi dancer
at Wilson's Dancing Academy (later, in 1931, renamed the Orpheum Dance Palace) in Times Square
.
when she was 21 and he was 31. Henry Miller left his first wife to marry June in Hoboken, New Jersey
on June 24, 1924.
In October 1926 (http://cosmotc.blogspot.com/2006/07/real-jean-kronski.html) Jean Kronski, an artist and poet, moved in with them at June's urging. June, who was bisexual, cultivated a very close relationship with Jean, often preferring Jean's affections to Henry's. This phase of her relationship with Jean is the central piece of Henry's autobiographical novel Crazy Cock.
This living arrangement soon fell apart and Jean and June left for Paris together in April 1927. However, two months later they started to quarrel, and June returned to Henry in July. June and Henry subsequently left for a tour of Europe, settling in Paris
.
In 1931, June met writer Anaïs Nin
, who quickly became obsessed with her and, just as Henry Miller did, used her as a biographical archetype
in many of her subsequent writings. June and Nin became involved in a flirtatious and perhaps sexual relationship, and June would figure prominently into her published and unpublished diaries, upon which the movie Henry & June
was based(http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/bion1/nin1.html). She was portrayed by Uma Thurman
.
in 1934.
After divorcing Miller she married Stratford Corbett (probably) in 1935, who worked either for the New York Life Insurance Company or as a public relations officer for the U.S. Government, neither has been confirmed. Stratford left her in 1947 for the actress Rita La Roy Corbett. Her life deteriorated at this point and she lived in a series of cheap hotels around New York City
, such as the Hotel Continental on 95th Street. She was in touch with Miller during this period through the post, and he sent her money through friends and bookstores such as the Gotham Book Mart
.
During the 1950s, June was admitted to psychiatric wards where she received electric shock treatments, during which she broke several bones after falling off the operating table. She never fully recovered. In 1954 she began volunteering as a social worker. In 1961 she met Miller again; he was shocked at her deterioration, and the two never rekindled their relationship.
In the late 1960s, June moved to Arizona with one of her brothers, where she is believed to be buried, but no location has been confirmed.
Although she expressed a desire to write an autobiography, she never wrote anything other than letters. However, she had enormous literary influence over the works of her ex-husband Miller and Anaïs Nin. She died in Arizona in 1979.
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...
.
Early life
She was born in BukovinaBukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
(of Romanian Gypsy origin as mentioned in Sexus) as either Juliet Smerth or Juliet Smerdt, the daughter of Wilhelm and Frances Budd Smerth. She emigrated with her family to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and arrived there on July 10, 1907, aged five.
She would reside in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for much of the rest of her life, excepting a tour of Europe and stints in 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...
.
She attended public school in New York. In Sexus, Henry Miller writes that June claimed she graduated from Wellesley College, but in Nexus, he writes that she never finished high school. Kenneth Dick, after interviewing June, quotes her as saying "My formal education amounted to about three and a half years of High School. I was working on a scholarship to Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
." Somewhere around 1917–1919, she went to work as a taxi dancer
Taxi dancer
A taxi dancer, or taxi for short , is a paid dance partner in a partner dance. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits...
at Wilson's Dancing Academy (later, in 1931, renamed the Orpheum Dance Palace) in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
.
Life with Henry Miller
In 1923 at Wilson's she met Henry MillerHenry 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...
when she was 21 and he was 31. Henry Miller left his first wife to marry June in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
on June 24, 1924.
In October 1926 (http://cosmotc.blogspot.com/2006/07/real-jean-kronski.html) Jean Kronski, an artist and poet, moved in with them at June's urging. June, who was bisexual, cultivated a very close relationship with Jean, often preferring Jean's affections to Henry's. This phase of her relationship with Jean is the central piece of Henry's autobiographical novel Crazy Cock.
This living arrangement soon fell apart and Jean and June left for Paris together in April 1927. However, two months later they started to quarrel, and June returned to Henry in July. June and Henry subsequently left for a tour of Europe, settling in 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...
.
In 1931, June met writer Anaïs Nin
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...
, who quickly became obsessed with her and, just as Henry Miller did, used her as a biographical archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
in many of her subsequent writings. June and Nin became involved in a flirtatious and perhaps sexual relationship, and June would figure prominently into her published and unpublished diaries, upon which the movie Henry & June
Henry & June
Henry & June is a 1990 American film directed by Philip Kaufman and stars Fred Ward, Maria de Medeiros, and Uma Thurman. It is loosely based on the book of the same name by the French author Anaïs Nin, and tells the story of Nin's relationship with Henry Miller and his wife, June.-Plot:The story...
was based(http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/bion1/nin1.html). She was portrayed by Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
.
Later life
June and Henry divorced by proxy in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1934.
After divorcing Miller she married Stratford Corbett (probably) in 1935, who worked either for the New York Life Insurance Company or as a public relations officer for the U.S. Government, neither has been confirmed. Stratford left her in 1947 for the actress Rita La Roy Corbett. Her life deteriorated at this point and she lived in a series of cheap hotels around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, such as the Hotel Continental on 95th Street. She was in touch with Miller during this period through the post, and he sent her money through friends and bookstores such as the Gotham Book Mart
Gotham Book Mart
The Gotham Book Mart, in operation from 1920 to 2007, was a famous midtown Manhattan bookstore and cultural landmark. The business was located first in a small basement space on West 45th Street near the Theater District, it then moved to 51 West 47th Street, then spent many years at 41 West 47th...
.
During the 1950s, June was admitted to psychiatric wards where she received electric shock treatments, during which she broke several bones after falling off the operating table. She never fully recovered. In 1954 she began volunteering as a social worker. In 1961 she met Miller again; he was shocked at her deterioration, and the two never rekindled their relationship.
In the late 1960s, June moved to Arizona with one of her brothers, where she is believed to be buried, but no location has been confirmed.
Although she expressed a desire to write an autobiography, she never wrote anything other than letters. However, she had enormous literary influence over the works of her ex-husband Miller and Anaïs Nin. She died in Arizona in 1979.
External links
- http://68.149.32.245/nethowto/examples/bradley/mansfiel/junebio.htm June Mansfield Miller: Biography
- http://68.149.32.245/nethowto/examples/bradley/mansfiel/biblio.htm June Mansfield Miller: Bibliography