The Home of the Surrealists: Lee Miller; Roland Penrose, and Their Circle at Farley Farm

The Home of the Surrealists gives a brilliant insight into life at Farleys House, the famous Sussex home of photographer Lee Miller and Surrealist artist Roland Penrose. Written by the couple’s son, Antony Penrose, this volume gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at what life on the farm was like for its residents and famed visitors.
 
An outstanding balance of scholarly expertise and personal experience, Penrose’s personal approach engages the reader on many levels. He discusses every aspect of Farleys House openly, from his long expeditions in farm woodlands with Timmie O’Brien, Vogue managing editor of the time, to avoiding Miller’s temper and irrationality at times when her post-traumatic stress disorder led her to drink. The various artists that visited the home in Penrose’s time included Max Ernst, Dorothea Tanning, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso, whom Penrose famously bit and was bitten by in return.
 
The book, originally published in 2001, has been re-photographed by Tony Tree to include newly restored rooms and capture the visual delights of the house. Penrose’s extensive knowledge of all things related to Farleys House, Lee Miller, and Roland Penrose also opens up new interpretations of his parent’s artwork. With 150 exceptional photographs, accompanied by Penrose’s intimate understanding of the décor and ambience of Farleys, The Home of the Surrealists captures the essence of the house for the reader. 

Antony Penrose is the son of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose and cofounder of the Lee Miller Archives. He is the author of the biography Lives of Lee Miller and editor of Lee Miller’s War. He has been researching, lecturing, and working to conserve his mother’s legacy for forty years.