[1] It corresponds temporally to the first volume of Nin's published diaries, written between October 1931 and October 1932, yet is radically different, in that that book begins with a description of the landscape of and around her home and never mentions her husband, whereas Henry and June begins with discussion of Nin's sex life and is full of her struggles and passionate relationship with husband Hugo, and then, as the diary/memoir progresses, other lovers.

Nin's source material—her diaries—was able to spawn two dramatically different narratives about the same time period, both widely read and praised.

[2] At the end of 1931, Nin finds herself dissatisfied with being a timid, faithful wife to her banker husband, Hugh Parker Guiler.

When June leaves, Nin becomes involved with Henry, and begins an uninhibited sexual and emotional affair with him, which prompts an intellectual and sensual awakening.

The same year the book was also adapted into a film as The Room of Words (La stanza delle parole),[3] a low-budget Italian production directed by Franco Molé.