Who was norman mailer

Norman Mailer (1926-2007) was an American novelist, journalist, and social commentator. He was one of the most influential and controversial writers of the 20th century, known for his provocative and often provocative works that explored themes of politics, culture, and human nature.

Mailer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Harvard University, where he began to develop his writing skills and became interested in the works of Ernest Hemingway and other modernist writers. After graduating, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War, where he was stationed in Japan and began to write his first novel, "The Naked and the Dead" (1948).

"The Naked and the Dead" was a critical and commercial success, and established Mailer as a major literary talent. The novel is a sprawling, experimental work that explores the experiences of American soldiers during the final months of World War II. It is considered one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century, and is still widely read and studied today.

Mailer went on to write many other novels, including "Barbary Shore" (1951), "The Deer Park" (1955), and "Harlot's Ghost" (1991). He was also a prolific journalist and essayist, and wrote for numerous publications, including The New Yorker, Harper's, and The Village Voice.

Mailer was known for his provocative and often controversial views on politics, culture, and society. He was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War, and was arrested in 1967 for participating in an anti-war protest in Washington, D.C. He was also a strong supporter of the civil rights movement, and wrote extensively on the topic of race and racism in America.

Mailer was a complex and multifaceted figure, and his work often blended elements of fiction, nonfiction, and journalism. He was a master of the essay form, and wrote many influential and provocative essays on a wide range of topics, from politics and culture to literature and philosophy.

Some of Mailer's most famous works include:

• "The Naked and the Dead" (1948) - a novel about the experiences of American soldiers during World War II
• "Barbary Shore" (1951) - a novel about a group of artists and intellectuals living in a communal household in Brooklyn
• "The Deer Park" (1955) - a novel about a group of American expatriates living in Mexico
• "Harlot's Ghost" (1991) - a novel about the CIA and the Cold War
• "The Executioner's Song" (1979) - a nonfiction book about the life and death of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who was executed in Utah in 1977
• "Marilyn: A Biography" (1973) - a biography of Marilyn Monroe, which was widely praised for its insight and sensitivity.

Mailer was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1979 for "The Executioner's Song", and was also awarded the National Book Award for Fiction in 1980 for "Tough Guys Don't Dance". He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005.

Mailer was married six times, and had nine children. He died on November 10, 2007, at the age of 84, in New York City.