Here is Jonathan Lethem writing in the Los Angeles Review of Books about Norman Mailer’s influence on twentieth-century culture:
Asked to name an enduring literary figure from postwar fiction, akin to figures like Sherlock Holmes or Madame Bovary, I instinctively said “Norman Mailer!” in a half-serious manner. Mailer shaped himself into a character he continuously crafted, whether in public or through his groundbreaking works of creative nonfiction, often portraying himself as the central character in his narratives. Essentially, Mailer not only chronicled significant events in 20th-century American history but also his own life, full of triumphs and challenges.
In line with existentialist beliefs that identity is fluid and constantly reshaped by our actions, Mailer, self-proclaimed as the first American existentialist author, could be viewed as conducting an ongoing experiment to validate this claim. Lennon’s biography, “Norman Mailer: A Double Life,” delves into Mailer’s multifaceted identity without judgment or excuse. While Lennon chose this title, “Norman Mailer: The Container of Multitudes” may have been a more apt descriptor.
The biography covers well-known episodes of Mailer’s life, such as his World War II service, rapid ascent to fame with “The Naked and the Dead,” the incident involving the stabbing of his second wife, his literary conflicts, and numerous romantic liaisons. Lennon provides a deeper exploration of these events, breathing life into them. He also delves into lesser-known aspects of Mailer’s life, including his complex relationship with Judaism, his father’s gambling issues, a sci-fi book he wrote for his adoring mother, his time studying in France, and insider stories about his book releases.
One intriguing facet of Mailer’s life highlighted in the biography is his bond with Polish-French writer Jean Malaquais, characterized as a mentor-student partnership. Malaquais significantly influenced Mailer’s intellectual growth, recommending readings like Marx’s “Das Kapital” and collaborating on projects. However, Mailer eventually outgrew this role, finding Malaquais’s ideas too rigid.
The biography also traces Mailer’s evolution as a writer, from his early influences like Dos Passos, Dreiser, and Steinbeck to his transition to a more polemic style in works like “Barbary Shore” and the experimental use of drugs in “The Deer Park.” It explores his self-referential approach in works like the “Lipton Diaries” and the award-winning “Armies of the Night.”
Lennon’s straightforward narrative, interspersed with analyses, letters, and personal insights, portrays Mailer authentically. The book is both engaging to read and a valuable scholarly reference with extensive endnotes, appealing to literary enthusiasts and academics alike. “Norman Mailer: A Double Life” promises to be the definitive Mailer biography.
