Introduction
"Memoirs of a Horn Blower" is another of the recent "avante garde" novels depicting aspects of sex on the American scene, which could have only been written and published in Paris. Its daring boldness in showing the love-life of a run-of-the-mill musician with complete frankness of erotic detail nevertheless resulted in its being banned shortly after publication.
This story is unusual in that its wealth of detail as far as musical background is concerned has actually been experienced by the author, a former jazz musician himself. Intimately familiar with the casual, happy-go-lucky sexual affairs of the average "combo artist" and the women in this brand of show business, we are told everything. So-called normal love, "junk" parties and the most extreme sexual perversions are described with the professionally detached "cool" of a man who has experienced the ultimate in lewdness and moral irregularities and has learned to take it all in his stride.
It is interesting to note that the hero of this tale plays a wind instrument, and that a certain type of sodomy occurs with extreme frequency throughout the entire narrative. One is led to speculate whether psychological analysis of the male and female participants in this recurring perversion would disclose strong tendencies to homosexuality in the male and lesbianism in the female.
The famous analyst Karl Abraham, in discussing choice of profession and vocation has stated that many neurotics choose their mode of making a living in society as a symptomatic attempt of curing their own complexes. In view of the "instrument" our main character is employing as a means of his livelihood, this statement on the neurotic's attempt at self-therapy in handling his neuroses, sexual or otherwise, becomes most interesting as the story progresses. The extreme gratification of the main character's deepest sexual impulses as a direct cause of the bizarre sex behavior of the variety of women he encounters is noteworthy.
Essentially this is a story which attempts to convey the feeling of a public entertainer's life, the portion unseen by the audience—his very private life and loves. After the initial shock of frank, spade-calling sex description, most readers agree that there is a feeling of having participated in the life of another human being—and a definite nostalgia when the last exciting page is finally turned.
Psychologically speaking, one would like to have a sequel. Practically speaking, one feels that it is hardly likely for so frank an exposure to be continued.
"Memoirs of a Horn Blower" is another in the long line of notable and unexpurgated novels published in this country for the first time by Continental Classics. It is recommended for mature adults only.