Tropic of Cancer

Henry visits his friend Van Norden, a terminally gloomy figure, and vividly describes Van Norden’s attitudes towards life, work, and women. Van Norden refers to women as “cunts” and frequently complains about them, describing their bodies and sexual practices in decidedly unflattering terms. He also bemoans his rotten teeth and blames Paris for their deterioration. He invites Henry to a dance the following night, where he is planning to meet a woman, and delivers a lengthy monologue about how lonely he is in Paris.

Henry’s friend Carl has been exchanging letters with a rich woman named Irene. Irene decides she wants to meet Carl in person, and they arrange a rendezvous at a hotel. Irene and Carl call Henry from the hotel room, and the latter notes Irene’s beautiful voice. Carl visits Henry the next day and will not describe the events of the previous night directly. Finally, after considerable prodding, he admits that while he did not have sex with Irene, she still wants him to run away with her to Borneo. However, she is older and less attractive than he had expected her to be. The two of them debate the benefits of dating older women, with Henry arguing that older women—especially wealthy ones—are perfectly tolerable as companions.