The Library of Roger Wagner - PBA Galleries

MEMOIR OF LONGTIME FRIEND ALFRED PERLES
145. miller, henry. Mon Ami Alfred Perlès - various manuscripts and typescript drafts (with holograph
corrections). Includes: 29 page holograph manuscript of Part I. * 18 page typescript of Part I, with
holograph corrections. * 43 page holograph draft of Part II. * 25 page typescript of Part II, with
holograph corrections. * 2 page holograph of “Conclusion to Epilogue.” * 2 page typescript of
same, with holograph corrections. * 1 page holograph statement “Fred’s X-mas day.” * 5 pages of
holograph notes about the essay.
No place: [1979]
A loving portrait of a fellow writer who befriended Miller during his early, hungry years in the
Paris of the 1930’s, and who remained a friend and correspondent for the remainder of Miller’s
life. Perlès was identified by Miller as the closest male companion he ever had. The memoir
contains many anecdotes of their early years in Paris together, with June, Anaïs Nin (“When I
became acquainted with Anaïs Nin, Joey naturally fell madly in love with her”), numerous other
women (and his Madonna/whore complex/theory), numerous cockroaches & vermin, seedy
hotels, petty thefts (“It was always a collaborative event. While I engaged Michael Fraenkel
in hearty discussion of this or
that Joey would remove the
wallet from the inside pocket of
Fraenkel’s coat...”), practical jokes,
homesickness, writing Tropic of
Cancer (“At last it was finished.
But before thinking about a
publisher I knew it had to be
edited, trimmed down especially.
I looked about me in vain for
editorial guidance. Anaïs Nin was
out of the question. It was not her
type of book. One day, perhaps
at Fred’s own suggestion, I asked
him if he would help me...”),
Lawrence Durrell (“During the
period that Durrell and his wife
stayed in Paris - a year or two
- most every night was a gala
night...”), a white wine-induced
menage … trois with Miller,
Perlès, and a raven-haired friend,
an evening of bar-hopping with
Blaise Cendrars, and many other
great escapades. Miller ends
poignantly, “I wind up this chapter
about him with tears in my
eyes. He was a friend indeed, an
unfogettable one.” A wonderful
Lot 145
and valuable memoir. Rust marks
from paperclips; very good.
(2500/3500)
Each lot is illustrated in color in the online version of the catalogue.
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