Norman Mailer November 10, 2007

Norman Mailer - like Hemingway became a larger than life character. Mailer more so than Hemingway at times overshadowed his own works. He did not sit on the sidelines - a pioneer in participative journalism, he laid the groundwork for Hunter S. Thompson. Starting out as a novelist, he helped create the genre of creative non-fiction. He was a life long activist, often choosing the unpopular side of controversial issues. He seemed to revel in evoking animosity. No matter how you felt about Mailer and his opinions, he definitely helped shape the discussions and confronted America with issues that they would have otherwise wanted to avoid or sweep under the carpet.

So a folk song to Norman Mailer:

Look around me and what do you see, Norman Mailer looking down on me

Could it be his right hand, acting like he was a boxing man

A poor soldier who would go onto fight a bruising ego with all of his might

He saw himself so clearly, in novels obscured by reality

Scorned you once in the seventies view you now with empathy

Look around you what do you see Norman Mailer looking down on thee.