Anais Nin

Anais Nin was not only a voluminous writer, but also something of a sexual adventurer. In the late 70s and early 80s, I read all seven volumes of her journals. (In the states, they were called "The diaries of ..." presumably because the word "journal" might confuse people.)

There is an interesting movie called "Henry and June" which covers some of Nin's affair with famous provocateur and sexually graphic writer Henry Miller.

My take on Nin is that much of her journals are both hyperbole and truncation, depending on what actions (and with whom) were being revealed.

I've not actually read any of her designated fiction, but these journals are quite fascinating if you're interested in the 1930s literary milieu, especially Paris. The journals are dense but extremely readable for fans of literary biographies and memoirs and the creative process.

The other title here is a fine biography of Nin. (No, I didn't lift it from a Vancouver library. Rather, I spilled so much coffee on it, I had to buy it from them as it couldn't be easily rehabbed.)