47 pages • 1 hour read
Henry MillerA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
318
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1930s
1934
Adult
18+ years
In Tropic of Cancer, Henry, an American expatriate and aspiring writer living in Paris, navigates a life of poverty, relying on the kindness of friends while aspiring to create meaningful literature. His days consist of philosophical reflections, interactions with various eccentric characters, and struggles with employment, ultimately leading to moments of brief success and deeper introspection. The source text contains depictions of antisemitism, anti-Black, anti-Chinese, and anti-Indian/anti-Hindu stereotypes and language, as well as instances of misogynistic language, domestic abuse, and alcohol abuse.
Mysterious
Gritty
Emotional
Contemplative
Challenging
75,115 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller is both celebrated and criticized. Positively, readers appreciate its raw, unfiltered portrayal of bohemian life and innovative narrative style. Negatively, some find its explicit content and misogynistic undertones troubling. Its fragmented structure and explicit prose generate divided opinions, marking it as a polarizing classic in literature.
A reader who enjoys Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller likely appreciates candid, semi-autobiographical fiction that explores bohemian life and existential themes. Comparable to readers of Jack Kerouac's On the Road and James Joyce's Ulysses, they are drawn to unfiltered narratives and complex, introspective protagonists.
75,115 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
318
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1930s
1934
Adult
18+ years
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