Norman Mailer in Context

This volume offers new insight into the contextual background and literary-historical impact of Norman Mailer's body of work.

Maggie McKinley (Edited by)

9781108477666, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 August 2021

416 pages
23.5 x 16.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.72 kg

'… introduces all facets of Mailer's work and directs interested readers to further resources … the book emphasizes the work over the person, so readers will gain a fresh understanding of Mailer's writing … Recommended.' B. Diemert, Choice Connect

This volume offers new insight into the breadth of contexts that inform Norman Mailer's body of work. It examines important literary, critical, theoretical, cultural, and historical frameworks for Mailer's writing, highlighting the ways his work reflects the concerns of twentieth and twenty-first century America. This book traces Mailer's literary influences; his contributions to a variety of literary genres; his participation in the American political sphere; the philosophical, religious, and gendered contexts that shape his work; and the iconic American figures he profiled. The book concludes with reflections on Mailer's literary and cultural legacy, emphasizing his advocacy for literary freedom and the contemporary resonance of his work.

Introduction Maggie McKinley
Part I. Literary Influences: 1. Early influences Raymond M. Vince
2. Mailer and Hemingway Linda Wagner-Martin
3. Friendships and Feuds Matthew Hinton
Part II. Form and Genre: 4. New Journalism Jason Mosser
5. Essays and Columns Enid Stubin
6. The Novel Peter Balbert
7. Criticism Phillip Sipiora
8. Film Justin Bozung
9. Modernism Jerry Schuchalter
10. Postmodernism Scott Duguid
Part III. Political Contexts: 11. Marxism and Malaquais David Anshen
12. JFK and Political Heroism J. Michael Lennon
13. The Vietnam War Ann Luppi von Mehren
14. 1968 Political Conventions Robert Francis Saxe
15. Left Conservatism Kevin M. Schultz
Part IV. Philosophical and Cultural Contexts: 16. Totalitarianism Erin Mercer
17. The Hipster Raj Chandarlapaty
18. Manichaeism and Existentialism Victor Peppard
19. Technology Walter Lewallen
20. Violence Maggie McKinley
21. Race Douglas Taylor
22. Judaism Mashey Bernstein
Part V. Gender and Sexuality: 23. Masculinity Brad Congdon
24. The Second Wave Feminist Movement Bonnie Culver
25. Sex and Sexuality Nicole DePolo
Part VI. Profiles and Literary Biographies: 26. Marilyn Monroe Carl Rollyson
27. Muhammad Ali Ronald K. Fried
28. Picasso Linda Patterson Miller
29. The Criminal Mind: Gary Gilmore and Lee Harvey Oswald Mark Olshaker
Part VII. Mailer's Legacy: 30. Literary Activism Heather Braun
31. Mailer in Translation Jasna Potocnik Topler
32. Letters John Whalen-Bridge
33. Mailer Studies in the 21st Century Robert Begiebing
34. Political Resonance Gerald R. Lucas
Primary Bibliography
Selected Secondary Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK], Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Biography: literary [BGL]