Children of the Albatross

Children of the Albatross is divided into two sections: 'The Sealed Room' focuses on the dancer Djuna and a set of characters, chiefly male, who surround her; 'The Cage' brings together a case of characters already familiar to Nin's readers, but it is their meeting place that is the focal point of the story.

Anais Nin—the celebrated novelst, diarist, and short story writer—was born in France and spent her childhood in various parts of Europe and in New York. Nin returned to New York just before the outbreak of World War II, and she spent the rest of her life living there and in Paris and Los Angeles. Her work is characterized by a interest in the subconscious. Her five novels in the Cities of the Interior series focus on different female types and follow their lives through lovers, art, and analysis. In 1973 Nin received an honorary doctorate from Philadelphia College of Art. She was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1974.