The Road Is Wider Than Long

More about the book

In 1938, as Europe prepared for war, Roland Penrose and Lee Miller made a journey through the Balkans. Penrose was a painter and a writer; Miller had been a studio assistant to Man Ray, was a muse to several artists, and was a brilliant photographer. As they traveled, Penrose made pictures and took notes. On their return, Penrose produced a handmade book for Miller, drawn from his photographs and notes. A limited edition book was later printed, and Penrose embellished a small number of the books in that edition with a series of fanciful drawings. One of these he personalized for Miller. This special facsimile edition of The Road Is Wider Than Long re-creates the graphic artistry of Miller's own cherished copy. It also provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two artists and their journey of discovery in a world that would soon be transformed forever. Altogether, this volume occupies an important place in the history of Surrealist literature and, indeed, in the artistic heritage of Europe during the last century.