January, 1942 Summary and Analysis

17. Against the background of World War II, Pearl Harbor, air raids, as well as contentious, hurtful relationships with "friends," Anais Nin finds serenity in working with the old press that is finally delivered to the loft. She and Gonzalo use a library book on printing to get started. Initially it takes her 90 minutes to typeset half a page of her book, "Winter of Artifice." As she learns to typeset, Gonzalo battles with the mechanical problems of the press and is finally victorious. They both live, eat, sleep and dream about the press; they literally have printer's ink in their hair, food, and clothes. Nin writes that she's jettisoned friendships that are in any way bellicose or "pugilistic," but continues to soothe Henry Miller over the failure of his "American book." She notes that she is happy working long hours at the...