Andrew Miller's Love Affair with Literature Began at a Young Age
For Andrew Miller, reading was more than just a way to escape into another world; it was an existential quest for meaning. Growing up in England, Miller's earliest memory of reading was sitting on the sofa with his mother, devouring Mabel the Whale by Patricia King, with its beautiful colour illustrations. The scene has stuck with him as serene and iconic.
Miller's love affair with literature began to take shape when he started reading Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth at a young age. This historical novel sparked his fascination with Ancient Roman history, an obsession that would stay with him throughout his life. One place where Miller remembers reading it was in bed with his father, listening to classical music and imagining himself as the protagonist.
As he entered his teenage years, Miller's literary tastes began to diversify. He wasn't just drawn to historical fiction; he also became deeply intrigued by philosophy. Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus changed his perspective on life, forcing him to confront the absurdity of human existence and the importance of accepting one's fate.
However, it was DH Lawrence's Rainbow that truly ignited a fire within Miller. He found the book overwhelming yet mesmerizing, speaking directly to his own desires as a 17-year-old lover. The final scenes of the novel had such an impact on him that he was literally moved to his feet, eager to create something like it himself.
Miller's love for Lawrence eventually led him down a rabbit hole of literary exploration, but he also faced criticism and censorship. Lawrence's writing style was deemed too provocative by some, leading to the destruction of over 1,000 copies of The Rainbow in 1915.
In his later years, Miller found solace in the works of EM Forster, whose novels offered a sense of sanity and emotional maturity that he greatly admired. He also discovered Penelope Fitzgerald's writing, which was both thrillingly strange and deeply insightful, revealing the complexities of human nature.
Currently, Miller is engrossed in Tom Holland's Dominion: A History of Christianity, which has expanded his understanding of the subject matter. Alongside this, he is re-reading Elizabeth Bishop's collected poems, appreciating their calm authority and mastery of language.
Finally, Miller confesses to having a secret love for Tintin albums, despite Hergé's complicated past. As boys, his brother and he devoured the series, losing themselves in adventure and escapism.
Miller's journey into literature has been one of self-discovery and exploration, driven by his insatiable curiosity about human existence and our place within it.
For Andrew Miller, reading was more than just a way to escape into another world; it was an existential quest for meaning. Growing up in England, Miller's earliest memory of reading was sitting on the sofa with his mother, devouring Mabel the Whale by Patricia King, with its beautiful colour illustrations. The scene has stuck with him as serene and iconic.
Miller's love affair with literature began to take shape when he started reading Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth at a young age. This historical novel sparked his fascination with Ancient Roman history, an obsession that would stay with him throughout his life. One place where Miller remembers reading it was in bed with his father, listening to classical music and imagining himself as the protagonist.
As he entered his teenage years, Miller's literary tastes began to diversify. He wasn't just drawn to historical fiction; he also became deeply intrigued by philosophy. Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus changed his perspective on life, forcing him to confront the absurdity of human existence and the importance of accepting one's fate.
However, it was DH Lawrence's Rainbow that truly ignited a fire within Miller. He found the book overwhelming yet mesmerizing, speaking directly to his own desires as a 17-year-old lover. The final scenes of the novel had such an impact on him that he was literally moved to his feet, eager to create something like it himself.
Miller's love for Lawrence eventually led him down a rabbit hole of literary exploration, but he also faced criticism and censorship. Lawrence's writing style was deemed too provocative by some, leading to the destruction of over 1,000 copies of The Rainbow in 1915.
In his later years, Miller found solace in the works of EM Forster, whose novels offered a sense of sanity and emotional maturity that he greatly admired. He also discovered Penelope Fitzgerald's writing, which was both thrillingly strange and deeply insightful, revealing the complexities of human nature.
Currently, Miller is engrossed in Tom Holland's Dominion: A History of Christianity, which has expanded his understanding of the subject matter. Alongside this, he is re-reading Elizabeth Bishop's collected poems, appreciating their calm authority and mastery of language.
Finally, Miller confesses to having a secret love for Tintin albums, despite Hergé's complicated past. As boys, his brother and he devoured the series, losing themselves in adventure and escapism.
Miller's journey into literature has been one of self-discovery and exploration, driven by his insatiable curiosity about human existence and our place within it.
He must've had such an amazing childhood, surrounded by books and music 
Those illustrations in Mabel the Whale are still giving me those nostalgic feels 
It's crazy how one book can spark a lifelong obsession like The Eagle of the Ninth did for him. And I love that he connected with Albert Camus's philosophy on life - it's so relatable, you know? 
But what I find really cool is how his tastes changed over time and how literature helped shape who he became as a person 
Tintin albums are actually pretty underrated - I'm adding those to my list now 
Anyway, this story just made me want to dive into some amazing books and explore the world of literature myself 
Andrew Miller's love affair with literature is so inspiring, I wish more people had a Mabel the Whale moment that sparks their passion for reading! 
? Anyway, I think his love for DH Lawrence's Rainbow is totally valid 
.
just read this bio of Andrew Miller & I'm totally inspired 
- it took him on a journey to discover himself, philosophy, and even the world around him 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to be transported by beautiful colour illustrations 
or get fired up by Albert Camus' thoughts on life & fate 
? What's amazing is how his love for literature grew & evolved over time - from classic novels to modern writers like Tom Holland 
!
. DH Lawrence's Rainbow had a huge impact on him and now he's into em forster & penelope fitzgerald 
. and if we read them all in a year, our brain would produce like 1/3 less cortisol levels 
. now that's what i call a happy reader 
. that scene where he's reading Mabel the Whale with his mom sounds so cozy & i'm literally dying to know more about his reading habits 
. Like, can you imagine being moved to your feet by a book at 17? 
. But what I think I admire most about Miller's story is how he's always been true to himself and his tastes, even when it meant going against the norm. It's like, no one should be afraid to get lost in a good book 
. I mean, come on, Andrew Miller was basically living his best life through books as a kid 
. What's your take on Miller's literary tastes?
And it's awesome how he found solace in the works of EM Forster and Penelope Fitzgerald later on in life.
And what's up with all this fuss over Tintin albums? It's just cartoons, right? 
his memory of sitting on the sofa with his mom devouring mabel the whale is literally too cute 
I mean who hasn't had that moment where you're just reading and everything else fades away? His obsession with Ancient Roman history is pretty cool too 
And I'm glad to hear he found solace in Forster's writing - his novels are always a favorite of mine too. What's weird though, 1,000 copies of Lawrence's Rainbow were literally destroyed because they were considered too provocative 
, always on the hunt for meaning and connection 
. His story is so inspiring 
.
.
! Who knew someone as serious about literature could also be into cartoons? 
. I'm totally going to go grab a cuppa 
️ and get lost in some reading too 
1k copies of Rainbow got destroyed cuz some ppl thought lawrence was too provocative like chill dude