The controversy Sexus, first novel of the famous Henry Miller's trilogy

"The Rosy Crucifixion" is the second trilogy of Henry Miller (1891-1980), writer who became a controversial symbol of the Beat Generation. It took more than a decade for Miller to complete this collection began in 1949 with Sexus that delivers the details of his divorce from his first wife to his second marriage with June Miller. The story takes place in New York. The book is full of portraits, memories and offers an insight into Miller's ambition who struggled to become a writer. As usual, Miller exposes erotic passages to establish his thoughts. The french publication was turbulent. The editor, Maurice Girodias, head of Olympia Press publications founded by his father who had taken the risk to publish Tropic of Cancer in 1934, created the Editions de la Terre de Feu in the sole purpose of publishing the translation of Sexus. The novel suffers censorship and falls under the 1881 law, extended in 1945, to foreign works  "cataloged libertine." Girodias is threatened to be jailed. The first edition of the french translation, published in 5000 copies, was cut of its pornographic passages. Only the 200 not-to-be-sold copies and the 300 copies reserved for press remained uncensored.

Currently, the librairie Loliée offers :

• MILLER (Henry). La Crucifixion en rose. Sexus. Livre premier. Traduit de l'anglais par Jean-Claude Lefaure. Paris, Editions de La Terre de Feu, 1949, 2 volumes, in-12, covers. First edition of the french translation. One of 300 copies reserved for press.  

Erotoscope : 3 models, 26568 combinations to try!

In 1970 Marie Concorde Publisher released an amusing book  : Erotoscope. Designed by Raymond Abigeo and Jean-Claude Peretz (the latter is also known for his involvement in another curiosa photographic book, Mademoiselle 1+1 which recounts the day of a  nymphet in Camargue), the book proposes to dress and undress, according to one's fancy, three models by a sytem of pages divided in four horizontal bands. The book is of the most refreshing and immerses us in the fashion of that day : metallic dresses like ones designed by Paco Rabanne, black large belts falling on hips, crew socks. A book, literally, to strip.

Currently, the librairie Loliée offers :

• [CURIOSA] ABIGEO (Raymond) -  PERETZ (Jean-Claude). Erotoscope. Paris, Marie Concorde Editeur, 1970, in-4, reliure spiral binding, hard illustrated cover. First edition. 

Suzanne Roger : a neglected figure of contemporary art

Married to André Beaudin, Suzanne Roger (1896-1986) remains still today in the shadow of her contemporaries.Yet, her career deserves that one stops on her work. Trained at the Academie Ranson, by Maurice Denis and Paul Serusier, she made her first exhibition at the Kahnweiler gallery. She met the German collector and dealer via Juan Gris and Max Jacob and became, with her husband, a regular member of les Dimanches de Boulogne, where she met painters and poets Henry Kahnweiler supported. The brotherhood and literary  atmosphere of those meetings reflects in the painter's work whose pictorial quest is linked to the literary movement of the time. Her style is based on clean lines that are filled and deconstructed by flat areas of color. In 1961, is published byt the Galerie Louise Leiris (formerly, the one  of her stepfather Kahnweiler), the poems collection S.O.S. of the Haitian painter Roland Dorcely. The 5 engravings on copper by Suzanne Roger that illustrate the book provide a glimpse of her talent.

Currently, the librairie Loliée offers :

• [Roger (Suzanne)] - Dorcely (Roland). S.O.S. Paris, Galerie Louise Leiris, 1961, in-4, in leaves, illustrated cover, publisher's case. First edition with 5 original engravings, 2 in colors, by Suzanne Roger. Limited to 112 coppies. One of the 90 copies on Rives paper signed by the author and the artist.