Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

1957 memoir by Henry Miller

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Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

First US edition, 1957

Author| Henry Miller
Language| English
Genre| Memoir, nonfiction
Publisher| New Directions

Publication date

| 1957
Publication place| United States
Media type| Print
Pages| 404
Preceded by| Quiet Days in Clichy
Followed by| Nexus

Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch is a memoir written by Henry Miller, first published in 1957, about his life in Big Sur, California, where he resided for 18 years.

## History

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### Background

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In 1939, Miller left France for Greece, where he remained until 1940, leaving because of World War II. He returned to New York and made a year-long trip around the US, which resulted in his book The Air-Conditioned Nightmare. He moved to California in June 1942, living in Beverly Glen for over a year. In 1944, he moved to Big Sur, a section of the California coast, living in Partington Ridge from May 1944 until January 1946. He then married Janina Martha Lepska, his third wife, and they moved to Anderson Creek. In February 1947 they returned to Partington Ridge, where he remained until 1962.[1][2] He and Lepska separated in 1951 and divorced the following year. She moved to Long Beach, and their children, Tony and Val, stayed with Miller in the summers and at Christmas time.[3] Miller married his fourth wife, Eve McClure, on December 29, 1953.[4] They divorced in 1960.[5] He moved to Pacific Palisades in 1963, where he would live for the rest of his life.[1]

### Publication

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At the time of the book's publication, numerous Miller books were still banned in the US: Tropic of Cancer, Aller Retour New York, Black Spring, Tropic of Capricorn, The World of Sex, Quiet Days in Clichy, Sexus and Plexus. Miller was working on Nexus at the time of Big Sur's publication.[6] After the publication of the book, which presents Big Sur as paradise on earth, many fans began to arrive in Big Sur to explore the area and seek out Miller.[6][7]

## Summary

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The title of the book is taken from 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch's triptych "The Garden of earthly delights", where oranges and other fruits symbolize the delights of paradise.[6] The book is dedicated to Miller's friend Emil White, who established the Henry Miller Memorial Library in his old cabin in Big Sur.[8][9]

The first two main parts of the book are portraits of Big Sur, with descriptions of its inhabitants, including writers, mystics, and two of Miller's children, Tony and Val. There are also reflections on the benefits of solitude, and on events from Miller's past.[10]

The third part tells the story of when Miller was visited by an old friend from Paris, the French astrologer Conrad Moricand, in 1947. Moricand had written Miller that he was penniless. Miller invited Moricand to live with him in Big Sur for the rest of his life. Moricand arrived at the end of the year. The arrangement quickly turned into a disaster. Although Miller had told Moricand about Big Sur's isolated and rugged life, Moricand was unprepared and often complained about the weather, food, and his own poor health, among other things. Miller put Moricand in a hotel in Monterey, and arranged for him to return to France. Moricand did not immediately return to Europe, however, instead writing Miller angry letters about his perceived mistreatment.[11] Miller wrote about this episode, which would be published in 1956 as A Devil in Paradise, and a year later as the third part of Big Sur, called "Paradise Lost."[6]

The lengthy epilogue details the many letters he has received from readers, and concludes by asking the readers not to write to him anymore.[6] It was originally written in Anderson Creek in 1946, and revised for the book's publication.[12]

## References

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1. ^ a b Robert Ferguson, Henry Miller: A Life, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991, p. 351.
2. ^ Henry Miller, “Chronological,” Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, New York: New Directions, 1957, pp. 1-2.
3. ^ Arthur Hoyle, The Unknown Henry Miller: A Seeker in Big Sur, New York: Arcade Publishing, 2014, p. 178.
4. ^ The Unknown Henry Miller, p. 193.
5. ^ The Unknown Henry Miller, p. 256-57.
6. ^ a b c d e Mary V. Dearborn, The Happiest Man Alive: A Biography of Henry Miller, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991, pp. 263-64.
7. ^ Henry Miller: A Life, p. 329.
8. ^ The Happiest Man Alive, p. 309.
9. ^ The Unknown Henry Miller, p. 81.
10. ^ “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” City Lights. Accessed September 13, 2014.
11. ^ The Happiest Man Alive, pp. 245-46.
12. ^ Henry Miller, “Preface,” Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, New York: New Directions, 1957, pp. ix-x.

* v
* t
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Big Sur

Populated places|

* Big Sur Village
* Slates Hot Springs
* Posts
* Gorda
* Lucia
* Jamesburg
* Palo Colorado Canyon
* Plaskett
* Tassajara Hot Springs

Land use|

| Federal|

* Los Padres National Forest
* Ventana Wilderness
* Silver Peak Wilderness
* Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
* Pfeiffer Beach

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State|

* John Little State Natural Reserve
* Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
* Joshua Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve
* Point Sur State Historic Park
* Point Sur Lighthouse
* Point Lobos
* Ishxenta State Park
* Garrapata State Park
* Limekiln State Park
* Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
* Andrew Molera State Park
* Southern Redwood Botanical Area
* Point Sur State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area
* Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area

Local / county|

* Palo Corona Regional Park
* Mill Creek Redwood Preserve

University|

* Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Private|

* Glen Deven Ranch
* El Sur Ranch
* Mitteldorf Preserve
* Palo Corona Ranch
* Santa Lucia Preserve

Management|

* Big Sur land use
* California Coastal Commission
* Big Sur Land Trust
* Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council
* Big Sur Local Coastal Program Defense Committee
* South Coast Land Use Advisory Committee

Geographical features|

* Santa Lucia Range
* Malpaso Creek
* McWay Falls
* McWay Creek
* Little Sur River
* Big Sur River
* Ragged Point
* Anderson Canyon
* Palo Colorado Canyon
* Pfeiffer-Redwood Creek
* Jade Cove
* Sand Dollar Beach
* Cone Peak
* Pico Blanco
* Ventana Double Cone
* Junipero Serra Peak
* Chews Ridge
* Notley's Landing
* Big Creek Bridge
* Bixby Creek Bridge
* Pfeiffer Beach
* San Carpóforo Canyon

Attractions|

* Camp Pico Blanco
* Sykes Camp
* Bottchers Gap
* Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
* Point Sur Lighthouse
* Naval Facility Point Sur
* Nepenthe
* Esalen Institute
* Henry Miller Memorial Library
* Big Sur Condor Discovery Center

Events|

* Big Sur Folk Festival
* Big Sur International Marathon
* Big Sur Jade Festival

Community|

* Ventana Wildlife Society
* Ventana Wilderness Alliance
* Community Association of Big Sur
* Pacific Valley School

Trails and roads|

* Pine Ridge Trail
* Coast Ridge Road
* Old Coast Road
* Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
* Big Sur Coast Highway
* Palo Colorado Road

Notable individuals|

* José Abrego
* Ansel Adams
* Juan Bautista Alvarado
* Morley Baer
* Richard Brautigan
* John B. R. Cooper
* Kaffe Fassett
* William Randolph Hearst
* Robinson Jeffers
* Jack Kerouac
* Carolyn Mary Kleefeld
* Michael Murphy
* Henry Miller
* Emile Norman
* Nathaniel Owings
* Dick Price
* Elmer S. Rigdon
* Hunter S. Thompson
* Jean Varda
* Vilmos Zsigmond

History|

* Esselen people
* Salinan people
* Ohlone people
* Rancho El Sur
* Rancho San Francisquito
* Rancho San Jose y Sur Chiquito
* Rancho Tularcitos
* Rancho Milpitas
* Rancho San Jose y Sur Chiquito
* Manchester
* Los Burros Mining District
* USS Macon
* USS Ventura
* Marble Cone Fire
* Basin Complex Fire
* Soberanes Fire
* Dolan Fire

Flora and fauna|

* ' lousewort
* Santa Lucia fir
* Yadon's rein orchid
* California coastal redwood
* Tanbark oak
* Coast live oak
* California bay laurel
* North American cougar
* Rainbow trout
* California condor

The exact boundaries of Big Sur are loosely defined.

* v
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Henry Miller

Novels|

* Moloch: or, This Gentile World (1927)
* Tropic of Cancer (1934)
* Aller Retour New York (1935)
* Black Spring (1936)
* Tropic of Capricorn (1939)
* The Rosy Crucifixion (Sexus, 1949; Plexus, 1953; Nexus, 1959)
* Quiet Days in Clichy (1956)

Memoirs|

* The Colossus of Maroussi (1941)
* The Air-Conditioned Nightmare (1945)
* Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch (1957)

Related|

* Bibliography
* June Miller
* Anaïs Nin
* Brenda Venus
* Quiet Days in Clichy (1970 film)
* Tropic of Cancer (1970 film)
* Henry and June (1986 book)
* Henry & June (1990 film)
* Quiet Days in Clichy (1990 film)

Authority control databases: National |

* France
* BnF data

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