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'''J. Michael Lennon''': It’s not an easy question. I have so many memories of
'''J. Michael Lennon''': It’s not an easy question. I have so many memories of
Norman. But one of the things that has always impressed me about him,
Norman. But one of the things that has always impressed me about him,
right to the very end, is ''work ethic''. Norman was always devoted to the literary arts,which took a toll on other relationships. Yet it was it was something
right to the very end, is ''work ethic''. Norman was always devoted to the literary arts, which took a toll on other relationships. Yet it was it was something
that drove him. For example, when he entered the hospital for his last round
that drove him. For example, when he entered the hospital for his last round
of operations and treatments, he brought with him a half dozen books on
of operations and treatments, he brought with him a half dozen books on
Adolf Hitler. I was just stunned by that! I thought, oh, my God, when is he
Adolf Hitler. I was just stunned by that! I thought, oh, my God, when is he
going to give it a break? No, he just didn’t give up.
going to give it a break? No, he just didn’t give up.
As a writer, he was devoted to the notion that the novel was the art form
As a writer, he was devoted to the notion that the novel was the art form
that had the greatest capacity for understanding society and human psychology. He believed the novel made the world more understandable, made
that had the greatest capacity for understanding society and human psychology. He believed the novel made the world more understandable, made
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more stable identity of either insider or outsider might not encounter?
more stable identity of either insider or outsider might not encounter?


'''JML''': : Oh, I think that there were definitely losses that came from him jumping back and forth across that fence. But, overall, I think that it was a plus.
'''JML''': Oh, I think that there were definitely losses that came from him jumping back and forth across that fence. But, overall, I think that it was a plus.
It enabled him to maintain his singular critical perspective. For example,
It enabled him to maintain his singular critical perspective. For example,
giving up two years of his life leading PEN meant he wasn’t writing much
giving up two years of his life leading PEN meant he wasn’t writing much
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Hampshire, Stockbridge, and Bucks County, country places to which he
Hampshire, Stockbridge, and Bucks County, country places to which he
could retreat when New York was driving him crazy with all the demands for
could retreat when New York was driving him crazy with all the demands for
him to appear on talk shows and go to social events. At a certain point he would get sick of that scene, and had to get away to get some work done.
him to appear on talk shows and go to social events. At a certain point he would get sick of that scene, and had to get away to get some work done. The insider-outsider identity was something that he cultivated. When he
 
The insider-outsider identity was something that he cultivated. When he
was living in Stockbridge, in western Massachusetts, with his fifth wife, Carol
was living in Stockbridge, in western Massachusetts, with his fifth wife, Carol
Stevens, he would get bored and say, “I have to go to New York City. I need
Stevens, he would get bored and say, “I have to go to New York City. I need
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'''PS''': The past few years have surely been pivotal for Mailer Studies. After the
'''PS''': The past few years have surely been pivotal for Mailer Studies. After the
publication of A Double Life, you and your wife, Donna Pedro, returned to
publication of ''A Double Life'', you and your wife, Donna Pedro, returned to
Works and Days, a groundbreaking resource that not only chronicled what
''Works and Days'', a groundbreaking resource that not only chronicled what
Mailer said and did from the beginning of his creative life, but also cataloged commentary on him and his work, as well as his numerous appearances. You published the first edition in 2000 (Sligo Press) and then, in 2018,
Mailer said and did from the beginning of his creative life, but also cataloged commentary on him and his work, as well as his numerous appearances. You published the first edition in 2000 (Sligo Press) and then, in 2018,
you, Donna and Jerry Lucas brought out an expanded, revised edition. But
you, Donna and Jerry Lucas brought out an expanded, revised edition. But
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'''JML''': At first, it was an epistolary relationship. In December 1970, I wrote to
'''JML''': At first, it was an epistolary relationship. In December 1970, I wrote to
him after he appeared on The Dick Cavett Show where he had his infamous
him after he appeared on ''The Dick Cavett Show'' where he had his infamous
encounter with Gore Vidal and also interacted with Janet Flanner (and
encounter with Gore Vidal and also interacted with Janet Flanner (and
Cavett, of course). I wrote him a long letter about the show, and about the
Cavett, of course). I wrote him a long letter about the show, and about the
ideas in the dissertation that I was then writing, and right away I received a
ideas in the dissertation that I was then writing, and right away I received a
long letter back. I was very surprised that he answered me so quickly. That
long letter back. I was very surprised that he answered me so quickly. That
led to a series of letters with him before I actually met him in the flesh in October 1972 (parenthetically, the same month he first met Larry Schiller),
led to a series of letters with him before I actually met him in the flesh in October 1972 (parenthetically, the same month he first met Larry Schiller), when he was on a speaking tour during the McGovern-Nixon campaign. He
when he was on a speaking tour during the McGovern-Nixon campaign. He
was speaking at Western Illinois University, and I was teaching at the University of Illinois, Springfield, about 100 miles away, so I took my Mailer seminar up there to hear him speak. I met him, and he remembered our correspondence. After he spoke, we spent the whole evening at a bar talking and closed the bar down about 1:30 in the morning. That meeting established our relationship. In the summers after that, when my wife and my family would go back to New England, we would visit him either in Maine
was speaking at Western Illinois University, and I was teaching at the University of Illinois, Springfield, about 100 miles away, so I took my Mailer
seminar up there to hear him speak. .I met him, and he remembered our correspondence. After he spoke, we spent the whole evening at a bar talking
and closed the bar down about 1:30 in the morning.
 
That meeting established our relationship. In the summers after that, when my wife and my
family would go back to New England, we would visit him either in Maine
or in Provincetown. This went on for many years until finally in 1997 we
or in Provincetown. This went on for many years until finally in 1997 we
bought a condo in Provincetown So, our relationship began in a scholarly
bought a condo in Provincetown So, our relationship began in a scholarly
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{{Review}}
{{Review}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:On the State of Mailer Studies: A Conversation with J. Michael Lennon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:On the State of Mailer Studies: A Conversation with J. Michael Lennon}}
===Works Cited===
[[Category:Interviews (MR)]]
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Sipiora|first=Phillip|date= Fall 2019 |title= The Mailer Review |url= |location= |publisher=The Norman Mailer Society |pages=47-64 |isbn= |author-link=Phillip Sipiora |ref=harv }}
{{Refend}}
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