The Novel That Norman Mailer Didn’t Write (2013)

newyorker.com

14 points·lermontov··5 comments

> “Norman Mailer was one of the most original and powerful writers of the twentieth century, but he never wrote a truly great novel.”

What a bizarre thing to write about the author of The Executioner’s Song.

I mean it with absolute sincerity when I say in 100 years, The Executioner’s Song will be regarded as the single greatest literary work of the English language.

Greater than Shakespeare, Chaucer, Hemingway, Wallace, Milton, transcendentalists, feminists, poets, colonial philosophers and political scientists.

I mean, is it stupid to try to force rank all English literature? Yes, absolutely.

But if you did, I’m telling you The Executioner’s Song is coming out on top.

I would disqualify it just based on the fact that it is very based in American politics and culture at a distinct time period. It also doesn’t really push form in any interesting ways.

It is obviously impossible to say what will stand the test of time, but it is fun to guess! I don't think "pushing the form" is really that important in the long run. It will get you attention in the short run, but who actually remembers in what ways Shakespeare was "pushing the form" back in the day?

It pushes form in one of the most amazing ways of any book. The economy of writing is amazing. It’s a masterclass in how to say more with less - and it’s a long book. A long book full of extremely short passages that somehow feel full of vivid detail. I think it’s a very deliberate style and form to reflect American culture with that way of writing.

Would you disqualify other novels based in the politics and distinct time periods in other countries?

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