Norman Mailer was a prolific American journalist and author, known for his pursuit of the Great American Novel. Born in Brooklyn in 1923, Mailer’s literary career spanned 50 years, with his most famous work being The Naked and the Dead. Despite early success, his second and third novels were poorly received, and his personal life was often tumultuous. However, Mailer continued to write and became one of America’s most powerful political writers, covering public figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his non-fiction book, The Armies of the Night, and his books covered diverse topics such as sexual and political power, religion, the CIA, and ancient Egypt. Mailer’s outspoken opinions ensured he remained in the public eye and he is considered a powerful and influential figure in the literary world.
Norman Mailer has been called America’s best journalist. His prolific literary career spanned 50 years and, at times, his private life overshadowed his literary endeavors. Ever in pursuit of the Great American Novel, Mailer’s fictional output has had its fair share of detractors and fans.
Born in 1923 in the tough neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Norman Mailer first showed his literary talent at Harvard. In 1943, Mailer enlisted in the Army. Although he has seen more fights with his supervisors than with the enemy, he has used his experiences to become a best-selling author. The Naked and the Dead is a fictionalized account of a battle in the Pacific. It was a huge success and made Norman Mailer into a celebrity almost overnight.
Mailer’s second book was not as well received. Barbary Shore, published in 1951, depicts the conflict between a federal agent and a former radical. The book flopped and the critics sharpened their knives. Rumors circulated that Norman Mailer was just a flash in the pan.
Mailer moved to Hollywood hoping to turn his book into a film. When this project didn’t materialize, he devoted himself to the screenplay and then to his third novel. The Deerpark was another fictionalized account, this time of his experiences in Hollywood. The book was widely panned and several publishers rejected it. The rejection sent Mailer into a severe depression. He spent his nights smoking marijuana and drinking to cope with failure.
During this time, Mailer divorced his first wife. He soon married Adele Morales, an aspiring artist. Their turbulent relationship culminated in Mailer stabbing Morales with a penknife after an all-night party. She declined to press charges and Mailer received a suspended sentence. They soon divorced and Mailer moved on to the third of his six wives.
In the 1960s it seemed Norman Mailer was everywhere. His self-confessional book, Advertisements for Myself, was well received, and he founded the Village Voice, a free underground newspaper. In 1969, Mailer ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City.
Norman Mailer soon became one of America’s most powerful and influential political writers. He has used his descriptive abilities as a novelist to write about world events in non-fiction. His nonfiction books covered such public figures as Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, Lee Harvey Oswald, Pablo Picasso, and convicted murderer Gary Gilmore. In 1968, Mailer won the Pulitzer Prize for his non-fiction book, The Armies of the Night.
Mailer continued to be prolific. His books were sometimes chaotic and sometimes brilliant, many of them topping a thousand pages. They cover topics as diverse as sexual and political power, religion, the CIA and ancient Egypt.
Celebrity is something Norman Mailer can never escape. His outspoken opinions ensure that he is always in the public eye. His personal and literary life earned him notoriety and critical acclaim. He has been variously described as the voice of a generation and as an opportunist hacker, but no one can dispute the power, insight and influence Norman Mailer has had and continues to have on the literary world.
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