Different is dangerous
Henry Miller's first novel, Tropic of Cancer, written in 1934, was banned in all English speaking counties for for 27 years. Yet, it has been hailed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
To be different is dangerous. To write about sex while still in the throws of Victorian-ism was considered literary suicide.
To put up a Web site that doesn't copy other publisher's Web sites is dangerous, possibly even suicidal. To write a book that might be controversial is dangerous. To publish controversial books is dangerous--maybe even suicide. Time will tell.
As Henry Miller said in the opening page of his Tropic of Cancer, "I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive. A year ago, six months ago, I thought that I was an artist. I no longer think about it. I am."
A few years ago I used to admire the great publishers. I still do. I not only read and loved what they published, I practically inhaled them. As an agent, I saw manuscripts I loved rejected. I vowed one day I would be able to publish books I love. I am the happiest man in the world.
The copy of Tropic of Cancer I have was published in 1961 by Grove Weidenfield, a division of Grove Press. Anyone heard of Grove Press? Do they have a Web site?
