Miller decries pornography

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33250, 13 June 1973, Page 21

Miller decries pornography

ry 2 P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LOS ANGELES, June 12. Henry Miller, the father of the modern erotic novel. has launched an attack on pornography, saying that he prefers obscenity. Miller, the 81-year-old author of “Tropic of Cancer,” and “Tropic of Capricorn,” told a press conference yesterday: “I am not very' much interested in pornography as it is today. I think it is killing sex instead of helping. “There’s nothing without sex any' more, which I think is phoney.” But a 21-year-old actress, Linda Lovelace, star of the controversial film. “Deep Throat,” took issue with Miller at a later press conference. “I think sex was dead and films like ‘Deep Throat’ are bringing it back to life,” she said. Miller, whose press confer-, ence was at the convention of the American Booksellers’] Association, announced that he was about to publish a’ new book, “Insomnia, or the Devil at Large.” He said that it described his infatuation with al Japanese girl, Miss Hokil Tokuda, who was 29 when] she became his fifth wife ini 1967. “I think the sexual element is only part of life.” Miller [said. “It’s an important part [but it isn’t the whole thing. (Today it’s in everything.” I He added: “I prefer ob-

scenity to pornography. Pornography is sly but obscenity is forthright. The other seems a bit dirty to me. “What I like best is erotic literature. Erotic literature until now has used good language. It titillates because it doesn’t use bad words. “It goes all round it but it has been composed of very [beautiful writing.” I Miller said that his new [book would tel) of his inIfatuation with Hoki, a night ’club singer whom he met in [a Los Angeles restaurant. “My love was unrequited—words you don’t hear very much any more.” he said. “So I developed insomnia. I still have insomnia as a result of it. “I would wake up at three o’clock in the morning unable to sleep any more so I decided to profit by my insomnia and so some work. “I was like a crawly gorilla. So 1 sat down and began to (write about her,” he said. Jarring his hosts, the country’s booksellers, Miller preI dieted that books were on the | way out and would probably disappear altogether within 50 | years. I “We can acquire all wei 'need to know without books,” |he said. “We have so many: [kinds of media now. The [cinema and television have] [taken over.” ; And he added: “I am urg-[ I ing everyone to read less and■ [less and think more.”