Henry Valentine Miller (1891-1980)—a New York City native, French emigre, and finally a California resident—was known for pushing American censorship laws and, some might say, inspiring the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Miller's "Tropics" books ("Tropic of Cancer," "Tropic of Capricorn," and "Black Spring," all published in the 1930s) as well as his "Rosy Crucifixion" books ("Sexus" and "Plexus," from 1949 and 1953, respectively) blended fiction with autobiography, social criticism, and philosophical reflection. They were also confessional about his sexual escapades and frequently banned in the United States and overseas. In a landmark 1964 case, though, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned findings of obscenity and ruled that Miller's "Tropic of Cancer" was indeed a work of literature; the decision established a new standard for writers and publishers alike. George Orwell considered Miller to be the most important writer of his time, and Miller's work would go on to inspire Beat generation authors such as Jack Kerouac.