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The Mailer Review/Volume 4, 2010/Inside Norman Mailer: Difference between revisions

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{{Byline |last=Apple |first=Max |abstract=Max Apple’s satirical short story imagines a surreal boxing match between the narrator and the literary titan Norman Mailer, blending bravado, absurdity, and literary criticism. Through this hilarious and metaphoric battle, Apple pokes fun at Mailer’s outsized persona and reputation while reflecting on the struggles of ambition, authorship, and masculine performance in American letters. |note=Reprinted by permission of the author, Max {{harvtxt|Apple|1976|pp=49–60}}. |url=http://prmlr.us/mr04app}}
 
{{Byline|last=Apple|first=Max|note=Reprinted by permission of the author, Max Apple. From {{cite book |last= |first= |date= |title=The Oranging of America |url= |location=New York |publisher=Viking |year=1976 |pages=49-60 |ref=harv }}|url=....}}


==I==
==I==
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unlikely. Look at Pete Rademacher—not even a pro. Fresh from a three-round Olympic decision, he got a shot at Floyd Patterson, made the cover of
unlikely. Look at Pete Rademacher—not even a pro. Fresh from a three-round Olympic decision, he got a shot at Floyd Patterson, made the cover of
''Sports Illustrated'', picked up an easy hundred grand. Now that is one fight
''Sports Illustrated'', picked up an easy hundred grand. Now that is one fight
that Mr. Mailer, the literary lion, chose not to discuss. The clash between
that Mr. Mailer, the Iiterary lion, chose not to discuss. The clash between
pro and amateur didn’t grab his imagination like two spades in Africa or the
pro and amateur didn’t grab his imagination like two spades in Africa or the
dark passion of Emile Griffith. Yes, you know how to pick your spots, Norman. I who have studied your moves think that your best instinct is judgment. It’s your secret punch. You knew how to stake out Kennedy and
dark passion of Emile Griffith. Yes, you know how to pick your spots, Norman. I who have studied your moves think that your best instinct is judgment. It’s your secret punch. You knew how to stake out Kennedy and
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“I know,” says my gentle master, “but think about one big thing.”
“I know,” says my gentle master, “but think about one big thing.”


I concentrate on the new edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. It works. My mind is less a palimpsest, more a blank page.
I concentrate on the new edition of the ''Encyclopedia Britannica''. It works. My mind is less a palimpsest, more a blank page.


“You may be too young to remember,” he says, “James Jones and James T. Farrell and James Gould Cozzens and dozens like them. I took them all on, absorbed all they had and went on my way, just like Shakespeare ate up
“You may be too young to remember,” he says, “James Jones and James T. Farrell and James Gould Cozzens and dozens like them. I took them all on, absorbed all they had and went on my way, just like Shakespeare ate up
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nor raise a fist to any man.” His words and his music are like Christmas
nor raise a fist to any man.” His words and his music are like Christmas
morning. I go forth, a seer.
morning. I go forth, a seer.
==Work Cited==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Apple |first=Max |date=1976 |title=The Oranging of America |url= |location=New York |publisher=Viking |ref=harv }}
{{Refend}}
{{Review}}
{{Review}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inside Norman Mailer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inside Norman Mailer}}
[[Category:Short Stories (MR)]]
[[Category:Classic Interpretations (MR)]]
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