Origins & Early Life

Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American writer, journalist, and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than six decades, Mailer had 11 best-selling books, at least one in each of the seven decades after World War II. His novel The Naked and the Dead was published in 1948 and brought him early renown. His 1968 nonfiction novel The Armies of the Night won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction as well as the National Book Award.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Among his other well-known works are An American Dream (1965), The Fight (1975) and The Executioner's Song (1979), which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Mailer is considered an innovator of "creative nonfiction" or "New Journalism", along with Gay Talese, Truman Capote, Hunter S. Thompson, Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe, a genre that uses the style and devices of literary fiction in factual journalism. He was a prominent cultural commentator and critic, expressing his often controversial views through his novels, journalism, frequent press appearances, and essays, the most famous and reprinted of which is "The White Negro". In 1955, he and three others founded The Village Voice, an arts...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• André Gorz — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): Austrian-French philosopher known for critiques of work and political ecology.
• Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher) — Contemporary (Died in 1923) (1923): Influential English philosopher and political theorist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Peet — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Dutch-American founder credited with starting the US specialty coffee revolution.
• Anita Roddick — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Pioneering activist and founder of The Body Shop, championing ethical consumerism.
• A. A. Milne — Shared historical date (01-31 · Died) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Amy Jackson — Shared historical date (01-31 · Born) (1992): British actress and model celebrated for her versatile roles in Indian cinema.
• Arthur Rimbaud — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1891): Transgressive French poet whose work profoundly influenced modern literature and surrealism.
• Bayinnaung — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1581): Emperor of the Toungoo Dynasty, who forged the largest empire in Southeast Asian history.
• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• January 31 (01-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 31
• 2007 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2007
• November 10 (11-10) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 10