Biography
Norman Mailer remains one of the most contentious and dynamic literary figures of his era. His pioneering approach to literary journalism and his vigorous critiques of American society have cemented his status as a leading novelist and social commentator. His unpredictable personal life and provocative public persona further spiced up this already complex narrative.
Formative Years
The story of Norman Kingsley Mailer begins in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he was born to Isaac and Fanny Mailer. As the only child, he moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, in 1927. There, he enjoyed an uneventful childhood filled with neighborhood sports, building model airplanes, and thriving academically. His exceptional intelligence, demonstrated by a high IQ score, paved the way for higher education. At sixteen, he applied to MIT for aeronautical engineering but was advised to gain a year of college experience elsewhere. Consequently, he attended Harvard University, graduating with honors in engineering in 1943.
During his Harvard years, Mailer discovered his passion for writing. Inspired by his literary idol, Ernest Hemingway, he began crafting stories for the Harvard Advocate and secured a national collegiate fiction award in 1941. In pursuit of real-world experiences to enrich his writing, he traveled the South and worked in a mental hospital. Mailer married Beatrice Silverman, his college sweetheart, in 1944, and soon thereafter, he joined the Army. His service included roles as a telephone lineman and a clerk before volunteering for combat duty, during which he served in the Philippines and Japan until his 1946 discharge.
Literary Breakthrough
Mailer made a sensational entrance to the literary world with his first novel, The Naked and the Dead, in 1948. The book, a sweeping wartime narrative, quickly established him as a formidable writer, earning both commercial success and critical acclaim. However, his subsequent work, Barbary Shore (1951), fell flat, partly due to its intense focus on Cold War themes. The Deer Park (1955), which dissected issues of power and spiritual failure in Hollywood, met with mixed reactions and increased Mailer’s anxiety about his literary future. A ten-year gap in novel writing ensued, during which he redefined his career with impactful nonfiction essays.
Mailer was an active participant in the intellectual and political movements of his time. Through The Naked and the Dead, he criticized what he saw as the totalitarian nature of American culture. His time in Paris studying at the Sorbonne and interactions with Marxist philosopher Jean Malaquais influenced his belief that writers should engage politically rather than withdraw from society. These convictions led him to support Progressive Party candidate Henry Wallace in 1948. The 1950s saw Mailer’s radicalism intensify, punctuated by his marriage to Adele Morales in 1954 and his association with the Beat movement. He was instrumental in founding The Village Voice and openly experimented with drugs and alcohol. In a notable essay, The White Negro, published in Dissent in 1957, he championed the "psychic outlaw" or hipster as a beacon of freedom. His writings from this period were collected in Advertisements for Myself (1959).
Journalistic Ventures
Mailer’s ventures into journalism rejuvenated his career. His political ambitions saw him run for New York City mayor in 1960. However, his personal life was fraught with drama. The culmination of a heated altercation with Adele led to him stabbing her, resulting in a brief stint in Bellevue mental hospital and their subsequent divorce. Mailer’s third marriage to Lady Jeanne Campbell was short-lived, followed by a more stable union with actor Beverly Bentley. With a growing family and financial pressures, Mailer turned to journalism. The Presidential Papers , published in 1963, was...
(This entire section contains 1246 words.)
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a significant collection that included "Superman Comes to the Supermarket," a vibrant depiction of John Kennedy during the 1960 Democratic National Convention.
Reinvigorated, Mailer resumed fiction writing with An American Dream, a novel exploring themes of murder and power, criticized yet underappreciated by reviewers. His subsequent novel, Why Are We in Vietnam? (1967), used a bear-hunting trip to symbolize the impending Vietnam conflict, employing a teenager's hipster dialect for narrative. This bold attempt earned a National Book Award nomination and set the stage for Mailer’s most fruitful period in literary journalism.
Peak and Resolve
Mailer’s journalistic prowess peaked with works like The Armies of the Night (1967), a Pulitzer Prize-winning piece on the Vietnam War protests, blending personal reflections with new journalism techniques. This was followed by politically charged reportage in Miami and the Siege of Chicago (1969), and compelling narratives on events like the Apollo 11 moon landing in Of a Fire on the Moon (1970) and the iconic Ali-Frazier boxing match in King of the Hill (1971). His controversial stance on gender politics was evident in The Prisoner of Sex (1971), while his fascination with Marilyn Monroe was captured in Marilyn (1973), where he speculated on the actress’s death and announced intentions to monitor federal agencies, including the CIA.
After a hiatus, Mailer returned with The Executioner’s Song (1979), earning another Pulitzer for his immersive recounting of Gary Gilmore's story, exploring the complex interplay of violence in America. His advocacy for Jack Henry Abbott, a convict-turned-author, ended in tragedy when Abbott killed a waiter after his release. Amidst these upheavals, Mailer stabilized his personal life, remarrying and adding to his family. He continued to delve into various topics, as seen in Pieces and Pontifications (1982).
Later Years and Legacy
Mailer’s later years saw fluctuating literary success. Ancient Evenings (1983) and Tough Guys Don’t Dance (1984) received lukewarm responses, while Harlot’s Ghost (1991) failed to impress critics. Returning to nonfiction, he explored historical figures like Lee Harvey Oswald in Oswald’s Tale: An American Mystery (1995) and Pablo Picasso in Portrait of Picasso as a Young Man (1995). His experiments continued with The Gospel According to the Son (1997), offering a unique perspective on Jesus’s life, followed by a collection of essays in The Time of Our Time (1998).
Concluding Thoughts
Norman Mailer, more than any other writer since Hemingway, intertwined his combative personality with a vibrant literary voice. Known for his fearless exploration of American culture’s gritty underbelly, Mailer’s work often sparked both admiration and controversy. While his public antics sometimes overshadowed his literary contributions, the breadth of his work—from violence and power to spiritual quests—portrays a profound critique of modern American life. Mailer’s enduring legacy lies in his ability to challenge the status quo, ensuring his place among the foremost social critics of the twentieth century.
Further Reading
Lennon, J. Michael, ed. Conversations with Norman Mailer. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1988. A comprehensive collection of interviews spanning nearly four decades.
Lucid, Robert F., ed. Norman Mailer: The Man and His Work. Boston: Little, Brown, 1971. Offers critical perspectives on Mailer's work in its historical context.
Mailer, Adele. The Last Party: Scenes from My Life with Norman Mailer. New York: Barricade, 1997. A detailed memoir that sheds light on Mailer's personal life during their marriage.
Manso, Peter. Mailer: His Life and Times. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985. A biography compiled from various perspectives on Mailer's life.
Merrill, Robert. Norman Mailer Revisited. Boston: Twayne, 1992. An updated literary analysis focusing more on Mailer's work than his personal life.
Mills, Hilary. Mailer: A Biography. New York: Empire, 1982. A straightforward biography covering Mailer's life and career up to 1982.
Rollyson, Carl. The Lives of Norman Mailer. New York: Paragon House, 1991. A sympathetic full-scale biography on Mailer.
Solotaroff, Robert. Down Mailer’s Way. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1974. An academic critique of Mailer’s contributions to literature and journalism.
Wenke, Joseph. Mailer’s America. Hanover: University Press of New England, 1987. An analysis of Mailer's work in the context of American culture.
Criticism by Norman Mailer
