Nights of Love and Laughter

HENRY VALENTINE MILLER (Dec. 26, 1891 - Jun. 7, 1980) was an American writer. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms, developing a new sort of semi-autobiographical novel that blended character study, social criticism, philosophical reflection, explicit language, sex, surrealist free association, and mysticism.

Born at his family’s home, 450 East 85th Street, in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, New York City, he was the son of Lutheran German parents, Louise Marie (Neiting) and tailor Heinrich Miller. As a child, he lived for nine years at 662 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, known at that time (and referred to frequently in his works) as the Fourteenth Ward. In 1900, his family moved to 1063 Decatur Street in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn.

Following elementary school, although his family remained in Bushwick, Miller attended Eastern District High School in Williamsburg. As a young man, he was active with the Socialist Party of America. He attended the City College of New York for one semester.

His published works include Tropic of Cancer (1934), Black Spring (1936), Tropic of Capricorn (1939) and The Rosy Crucifixion trilogy (1949-59), all of which are based on his experiences in New York and Paris, and all of which were banned in the United States until 1961.

Miller died at his home in Pacific Palisades in 1980 aged 88.

KENNETH CHARLES MARION REXROTH (Dec. 22, 1905 - Jun. 6, 1982) was an American poet, translator and critical essayist. He is regarded as a central figure in the San Francisco Renaissance, and paved the groundwork for the movement. Although he did not consider himself to be a Beat poet, he was dubbed the “Father of the Beats” by Time Magazine. He was among the first poets in the U.S. to explore traditional Japanese poetic forms such as haiku. He was also a prolific reader of Chinese literature. He died in Santa Barbara in 1982 aged 76.