Present Containing Books The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)

Title	:	The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)
Author	:	Anaïs Nin
Book Format	:	Mass Market Paperback
Book Edition	:	Deluxe Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 144 pages
Published	:	July 16th 1992 by Virago (first published 1950)
Categories	:	Fiction. Classics. Adult Fiction. Erotica. Romance. Literature. Cultural. France. European Literature. French Literature

The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3) Mass Market Paperback | Pages: 144 pages

Relation Toward Books The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)

I rate her so high because I get so much pleasure reading her diaries, and now I am glued to her novel as well for the same reason. It is least like a novel though– not in traditional sense. The narrative primarily tells us the feelings of Djuna (Anais) and her relationship with the gypsy 'Rango.' Personally, I prefer a novel that does not have too many characters, unless the novel is Anna Karenina. Therefore, this novel is ideal for me.

Right from the first page, one cannot help noticing the language. It is not really the plot or the story that one turns the page for; one is deeply drawn to the poetic prose.

I quote from the novel:

''Their first kiss was witnessed by Seine River carrying gondola of street lamps' reflections in its spangled folds, carrying haloed street lamps flowering on bushes of black lacquered cobblestones, carrying silver filigree trees opened like fans beyond whose rim the river's eyes provoked them to hidden coquetries, carrying the humid scarfs of fog and the sharp incense of roasted chestnuts nuts.

Everything fallen into the river and carried away except the balcony on which they stood.''

Very often one sees beautiful images, inner feelings described in a silky manner. How through wonderful images she opens up new streaks of 'knowing' in one's consciousness. Writing about deep, personal feelings is a tricky business in writing. If it is not done properly, the whole thing turns ridiculous. But with Anais, she always delivers.

For instance, read this;

''…having attained all lovers' dream of a desert island, a cell, a cocoon, in which to create a world together from the beginning.

In the dark they gave each other their many selves, avoiding only the more recent ones, the story of the years before they met as a dangerous realm from which might spring dissensions, doubts, and jealousies. In the dark they sought rather to give each other their earlier, their innocent, unpossessed selves.''

I must say though that I love her dairies best. I do have some reservations about her novel. For instance, in this novel we hardly hear Rango speak. We know him only through Djuno (Anais). While we know Djuno very closely and understand her, her ways of knowing and looking at things, we don't know Rango the same way. This seems unfair. In fact, even when one admires Djuno's ways of looking, her grappling with her fears, her aspirations, but she seems unfair and rather annoying when she takes over Rango and describes him for us–in Her Voice.

Another remarkable thing about Anais' writing is that we know how much she has admired D.H Lawrence, but she really restricts herself not to get carried away and mimic his style. In certain descriptions of Anais, one can see the 'Lawrentian' influence, but one also sees Her. In its spirit, her writings are fiercely her Own. Else I would not make so much noise about her.

List Books In Pursuance Of The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)

Original Title:	Four Chambered Heart
ISBN:	1853814741 (ISBN13: 9781853814747)
Edition Language:	English
Series:	Cities of the Interior #3

Rating Containing Books The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)

Ratings: 3.8 From 524 Users | 38 Reviews

Assessment Containing Books The Four Chambered Heart (Cities of the Interior #3)

This one centers closely on the triad of Rango, Djuna, and Zora, which made it the most readable of the continuous novels so far. All three are insane and terrible in some way, and it is all described in smooth, beautiful, but never flashy poetic prose. Themes: self-destruction through lack of self-awareness and putting other people's needs before your own, duality and balance, being who you are by being all your previous selves, different people fulfilling different needs/harmonizing with

Anaïs Nin' s works continue to lead me through a rollercoaster ride exploring my inner self, and consciousness while questioning my own thoughts and feelings. Beautifully written in her classic prose style and nothing short of surprises every other page.

An excellent narrative looking at a three pronged pronged relationship...love and the complexities therein.I had read a collection of short stories by Anais Nin in the past but that ill prepared me for this book which although very short is thoughtful and explores desire and how holding on can sometimes hasten it's demise.

Four Chambered Heart: V3 In Nin'S Continuous Novel by Anais Nin (1959)

A sensual and heartfelt account of a doomed ménage à trois. More essentially, it poetically describes various intricacies (enchantment, jealousy, duty, etc.) of a human relationship.

I liked this book because it analyzes the relationship between lovers from its highest point to it's downfall. Obviously, in doing this it also analyzes the individuals and we see exactly how the main characers became such pathetic failures. The story and the writing is mediocre. It was the dissection of people and relationships I found worth while.