Mailer: A BiographyUndeniably one of the most controversial figures of past half century, Norman Mailer has also been one of the most influential. Twice a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, once a candidate for mayor of New York City, and the author of thirty-one books, he has both made the news and commented on it with an originality that has permanently altered America's literary landscape. From the peace rallies of the sixties that lead to The Armies of the Night, to the coverage of the "sex wars" in The Prisoner of Sex, to the study of violence and punishment in The Executioner's Song, Mailer has observed our culture with unmatched insight -- and shaped it as well. Mary Dearborn had unprecedented access to Mailer's friends, relations, and antagonists. With photographs and correspondence never before published, her biography fills in the familiar outlines of his colorful personal life -- the wives and mistresses, the brawls and arrests -- and charts Mailer's brilliant successes and notorious failures. Acclaimed for her biographies of Henry Miller and Louise Bryant, Dearborn comes to her subject uniquely sensitive to Mailer's best and worst sides. Her account is the most clearheaded and balanced evaluation to date. As splendidly told by Mary Dearborn, Mailer's story is, for good or ill, the story of our times. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 58
Page 9
... experiences . His life has a certain order that demands regularity and thus a certain amount of repetition . But experience must remain fresh : he has always considered himself an existentialist , and as such he believes that a person ...
... experiences . His life has a certain order that demands regularity and thus a certain amount of repetition . But experience must remain fresh : he has always considered himself an existentialist , and as such he believes that a person ...
Page 19
... experience and all that . " He was left with a vague bitterness . - But then his Brooklyn upbringing would never be fully integrated into his experience . He would draw on it when it suited him , relishing paint- ing himself as an ...
... experience and all that . " He was left with a vague bitterness . - But then his Brooklyn upbringing would never be fully integrated into his experience . He would draw on it when it suited him , relishing paint- ing himself as an ...
Page 35
... experience made a great impression on him , resurfacing later in his life when he was confronted with the threat of forced hospitalization . He spent the rest of the summer trying to write a play about the experience , which he called ...
... experience made a great impression on him , resurfacing later in his life when he was confronted with the threat of forced hospitalization . He spent the rest of the summer trying to write a play about the experience , which he called ...
Contents
COCK OF THE WALK | 1 |
THE ARMY | 36 |
POLITICS AND HOLLYWOOD | 65 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adele Advertisements American appeared asked become began believed Beverly called campaign career Carol close course critics culture described early editor experience fact feel felt fight finally followed friends gave given going Gwaltney Harvard idea important interest Interview issue John kind knew later letter literary living looked magazine Mailer Manso March months moved Naked needed never night Norman Norman Mailer novel once Park party perhaps piece play political Provincetown published readers remembers reporter scene seemed sense sexual simply story Street success summer talk tell things thought tion told took turned wanted White wife women writing wrote York young