Norman Mailer was born on January 31, 1923, in Long Branch, New Jersey. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he developed a love for writing at an early age. After graduating from Boys High School, Mailer attended Harvard University, where he studied aeronautical engineering. However, his passion for writing soon led him to pursue a career in literature.
During World War II, Mailer served in the U.S. Army as a rifleman. His experiences during the war would later influence much of his writing. In 1948, he published his first novel, "The Naked and the Dead," which drew upon his wartime experiences and received critical acclaim.
Over the course of his career, Mailer became a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novels "The Armies of the Night" in 1968 and "The Executioner's Song" in 1979. In addition to his novels, Mailer was also known for his essays and essay collections, including "The White Negro" and "The Presidential Papers."
Aside from his literary accomplishments, Mailer was also a co-founder of The Village Voice, a popular newspaper in New York City. He was a leading figure in the New Journalism movement, which sought to blend traditional journalism with literary techniques. Mailer's works in The Village Voice helped to define the genre of creative nonfiction.
Throughout his life, Mailer was married six times. He married his first wife, Beatrice Silverman, in 1944, and went on to have nine children through his various marriages. In 1980, Mailer married Norris Church Mailer, with whom he remained married until his death.
Norman Mailer's impact on American literature is undeniable. His groundbreaking works in fiction and non-fiction have inspired generations of writers and readers alike. His willingness to push boundaries and explore taboo subjects made him a controversial figure, but also a celebrated one. Mailer's legacy as a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and pioneer of New Journalism continues to resonate in the literary world today.
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