Norman Mailer vs. Everyone

In this selection of letters, the legendary author pulls no punches in correspondences with James Jones, Cynthia Ozick, Larry L. King, and others. Then he hits back hard at New York Times book critic Michiko Kakutani.

Published Feb. 27 2009 1:11AM EST

articles/2009/02/27/norman-mailer-vs-everybody-else/mailer-letters_15945_twlacy — Michael Brennan / Corbis

articles/2009/02/27/norman-mailer-vs-everybody-else/mailer-letters_15945_chaya3

In this response to a long letter by From Here to Eternity author James Jones, who was disillusioned about his generation of writers, Mailer tells his friend about a row with his publisher over six lines in his own book The Deer Park.

August 25, 1955

Dear Jim,

I’ve been planning for months...

Norman Mailer

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Norman Mailer vs. Everyone

In this selection of letters, the legendary author pulls no punches in correspondences with James Jones, Cynthia Ozick, Larry L. King, and others. Then he hits back hard at New York Times book critic Michiko Kakutani.

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Norman Mailer