What do you think?
Rate this book
Sextet * Collected Chapbooks By Henry Miller
The best of Millerâ s chapbooks bound into a single roaring volume.
Resembling a musical sextet where no two instruments are the same, but all instruments blend to form a single sound, Henry Millerâ s Sextet combines six jive-talkinâ , fresh, and impromptu pieces of writing originally published as individual chapbooks by Capra â On Turning Eighty,â â Reflections on the Death of Mishima,â â First Impressions of Greece,â â The Waters The Subject of Water Colors in Some of its More Liquid Phases,â â Reflections on The Maurizius A Humble Appraisal of a Great Book,â and â Mother, China and the World A Dream in Which I Die and Find Myself in Devachan (Limbo) Where I Run into My Mother whom I Hated All My Life.â
Like your favorite band releasing a six-song EP to keep you salivating until its next full-length album, Sextet is a finger-snapping sample of Millerâ s work with the blare of a clarion call, and lots of raucous humor and jazz.
Resembling a musical sextet where no two instruments are the same, but all instruments blend to form a single sound, Henry Millerâ s Sextet combines six jive-talkinâ , fresh, and impromptu pieces of writing originally published as individual chapbooks by Capra â On Turning Eighty,â â Reflections on the Death of Mishima,â â First Impressions of Greece,â â The Waters The Subject of Water Colors in Some of its More Liquid Phases,â â Reflections on The Maurizius A Humble Appraisal of a Great Book,â and â Mother, China and the World A Dream in Which I Die and Find Myself in Devachan (Limbo) Where I Run into My Mother whom I Hated All My Life.â
Like your favorite band releasing a six-song EP to keep you salivating until its next full-length album, Sextet is a finger-snapping sample of Millerâ s work with the blare of a clarion call, and lots of raucous humor and jazz.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
9 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Henry Miller
979 books5,153 followersHenry Valentine Miller was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist. He broke with existing literary forms and developed a new type of semi-autobiographical novel that blended character study, social criticism, philosophical reflection, stream of consciousness, explicit language, sex, surrealist free association, and mysticism. His most characteristic works of this kind are Tropic of Cancer, Black Spring, Tropic of Capricorn, and the trilogy The Rosy Crucifixion, which are based on his experiences in New York City and Paris (all of which were banned in the United States until 1961). He also wrote travel memoirs and literary criticism, and painted watercolors.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 20, 2025
Sextet is a collection that includes essays, a book review, and reflecting on a trip he made to Greece many years ago. Most of it is excellent. Despite nearing the end of his life, Miller never lost any of his prowess or verve for writing, and as always, manages to greatly inspire.
On Turning Eighty:
As the title suggests, Henry Miller ponders his life and what it all means at the age of eighty. In my opinion, it’s one of the best things he’s ever written.
5/5
Reflections on the Death of Mishima:
Miller expresses his admiration for Mishima, the writer, but despairs for Mishima, the nationalistic madman. I think Miller would’ve written a decent biography for the Japanese novelist, but this short will have to suffice. I’ve read a few of Mishima’s works and I agree, he was an excellent writer.
4/5
First Impressions of Greece:
This book isn’t to be confused with The Colossus of Maroussi. It focuses on the same trip he took to Greece around 1939, however, he wrote this for a good friend, a poet and diplomat named George Seferis. It’s made up of scattered thoughts regarding ancient Greek architecture, historical figures, and the impact of Greece facing modernity. He also mentions figures that personally influenced or inspired him, such as Dostoyevsky and Najinsky.
4.5/5
The Waters Reglitterized:
Henry Miller briefly discusses his love for painting, what his favourite artists mean to him, and the differences between writing and painting. It’s a bit too meandering, and I lost interest by the end.
3/5
Reflections on the Maurizius Case:
Henry Miller discusses one of his favourite books, The Maurizius Case, by a German writer named Jakob Wassermann. The book was written in the 1920’s and is the first of a trilogy. I’m not familiar with the writer or his works, but I’m sure I will enjoy style, particularly with the comparisons to Dostoyevksy (another one of Miller’s favourite writers). The first half solely focuses on the first book of the trilogy, and is written with passion and precision in equal measure. However, Miller later goes off on a tangent and discusses other topics and it soon runs out of steam. Still, it’s worth it for the initial review.
3.5/5
Mother, China, and the World Beyond:
The book ends on a high with Miller describing a dream he had where he went to heaven and was reunited with his mother and was able to heal old wounds as it were. It’s truly extraordinary for someone in their 80’s to be write so eloquently and full of zeal. There’s also another short tucked in at the end, describing his love for China, which is also quite beautiful
5/5
On Turning Eighty:
As the title suggests, Henry Miller ponders his life and what it all means at the age of eighty. In my opinion, it’s one of the best things he’s ever written.
5/5
Reflections on the Death of Mishima:
Miller expresses his admiration for Mishima, the writer, but despairs for Mishima, the nationalistic madman. I think Miller would’ve written a decent biography for the Japanese novelist, but this short will have to suffice. I’ve read a few of Mishima’s works and I agree, he was an excellent writer.
4/5
First Impressions of Greece:
This book isn’t to be confused with The Colossus of Maroussi. It focuses on the same trip he took to Greece around 1939, however, he wrote this for a good friend, a poet and diplomat named George Seferis. It’s made up of scattered thoughts regarding ancient Greek architecture, historical figures, and the impact of Greece facing modernity. He also mentions figures that personally influenced or inspired him, such as Dostoyevsky and Najinsky.
4.5/5
The Waters Reglitterized:
Henry Miller briefly discusses his love for painting, what his favourite artists mean to him, and the differences between writing and painting. It’s a bit too meandering, and I lost interest by the end.
3/5
Reflections on the Maurizius Case:
Henry Miller discusses one of his favourite books, The Maurizius Case, by a German writer named Jakob Wassermann. The book was written in the 1920’s and is the first of a trilogy. I’m not familiar with the writer or his works, but I’m sure I will enjoy style, particularly with the comparisons to Dostoyevksy (another one of Miller’s favourite writers). The first half solely focuses on the first book of the trilogy, and is written with passion and precision in equal measure. However, Miller later goes off on a tangent and discusses other topics and it soon runs out of steam. Still, it’s worth it for the initial review.
3.5/5
Mother, China, and the World Beyond:
The book ends on a high with Miller describing a dream he had where he went to heaven and was reunited with his mother and was able to heal old wounds as it were. It’s truly extraordinary for someone in their 80’s to be write so eloquently and full of zeal. There’s also another short tucked in at the end, describing his love for China, which is also quite beautiful
5/5
April 19, 2014
I haven't finished all the essays but so far it has been a great read. I'm in the section which is essentially a diary to his friend on his experiences with watercolors and even there he drops some gems.
April 9, 2021
The six essays collected here are great. It’s amazing to me that Miller’s writing ability showed absolutely no signs of slowing, even in his 80s.
Currently reading
December 20, 2025“Get down on all fours and teach the alphabet to ants — if you have to…Louis Armstrong is king. Billy Graham is just another preacher.”
April 16, 2009
If you like to think about Yukio Mishima, who could be aruably the last true samurai (and not T. Cruse), then you would like his writings in this book on the death of Mishima
September 3, 2016
Before there blogs there was essays. Printed on paper. Outlining the fringes of self, catharsising the suppressed, anchoring the fluid with worded wonders.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews