The famous and the obscure are illuminated under the penetrating, sometimes jaundiced eyes of author Henry Miller.

Henry Miller's gifts of profundity, humor, and spiritual sensitivity are well displayed in this collection of insights into the human character. The pieces range from the delightfully raucous to the metaphysically illuminating. Included here are mini-portraits of the renowned—Swiss astrologer Conrad Moricand, collage artist Jean Varda, Swiss-French novelist Blaise Cendrars, and American painter Beauford Delaney—as well as the anonymous figures who crossed Miller's path, including his first high school romance; a prostitute named Mademoiselle Claude; Miller's alcoholic, philandering Uncle Harry; and a murderer that Miller dubs "Bud Clausen." Thanks to Miller's penetrating prose, all of these figures become real to the listener, even 19th century poet What Whitman.

This recording contains material that may offend some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.