19
edits
The Mailer Review/Volume 13, 2019/On the State of Mailer Studies: A Conversation with J. Michael Lennon: Difference between revisions
The Mailer Review/Volume 13, 2019/On the State of Mailer Studies: A Conversation with J. Michael Lennon (view source)
Revision as of 12:52, 1 March 2021
, 1 March 2021Fixed minor spacing and punctuation errors.
Tag: Rollback |
Klcrawford (talk | contribs) m (Fixed minor spacing and punctuation errors.) |
||
| Line 271: | Line 271: | ||
'''PS''': That is quite a chunk of authorial history. In relation to the archival work that you have already mentioned, there is the forthcoming publication of his ''Lipton’s Journal'', written in 1954–55 and edited by you and Jerry Lucas, and Susan Mailer. What can you tell us about the gravity of ''Lipton’s Journal''? | '''PS''': That is quite a chunk of authorial history. In relation to the archival work that you have already mentioned, there is the forthcoming publication of his ''Lipton’s Journal'', written in 1954–55 and edited by you and Jerry Lucas, and Susan Mailer. What can you tell us about the gravity of ''Lipton’s Journal''? | ||
'''JML''': The manuscript is in the Ransom Center.I have the carbon copy, which | '''JML''': The manuscript is in the Ransom Center. I have the carbon copy, which | ||
Mailer gave me years ago. Lipton’s is a 110,000-word marijuana journal. He wrote it over a four-month period from the end of 1954 to the beginning of 1955. It is a pivotal piece of work, yet it was never edited or published. He just | Mailer gave me years ago. Lipton’s is a 110,000-word marijuana journal. He wrote it over a four-month period from the end of 1954 to the beginning of 1955. It is a pivotal piece of work, yet it was never edited or published. He just | ||
wrote it and put it away. It became the clearinghouse for his mind in that period, and a stalking horse for ''The White Negro''. It also anticipates many of | wrote it and put it away. It became the clearinghouse for his mind in that period, and a stalking horse for ''The White Negro''. It also anticipates many of | ||
| Line 349: | Line 349: | ||
'''JML''': Sure. Maggie’s volume will be an important reconsideration of Mailer. | '''JML''': Sure. Maggie’s volume will be an important reconsideration of Mailer. | ||
I believe she has over | I believe she has over contributors. I know that you’ve done the chapter | ||
on Mailer as a literary and film critic. She asked me if I would write on Norman Mailer and John F. Kennedy and I was happy to agree. I was surprised | on Mailer as a literary and film critic. She asked me if I would write on Norman Mailer and John F. Kennedy and I was happy to agree. I was surprised | ||
at how many places Kennedy shows up that I had forgotten. In my essay, I | at how many places Kennedy shows up that I had forgotten. In my essay, I | ||
| Line 357: | Line 357: | ||
through ''Harlot’s Ghost'' (1991), and even later. Oliver Stone made a movie, | through ''Harlot’s Ghost'' (1991), and even later. Oliver Stone made a movie, | ||
''JFK'', which Mailer reviewed in a long essay in which he revisited all his earlier ideas about Kennedy. And then, of course, he is a key figure in ''Oswald’s | ''JFK'', which Mailer reviewed in a long essay in which he revisited all his earlier ideas about Kennedy. And then, of course, he is a key figure in ''Oswald’s | ||
Tale''. Another key text is ''An American Dream'', | Tale''. Another key text is ''An American Dream'', where he has an off-stage role. | ||
Kennedy is also in ''Cannibals and Christians''. In fact, he is in all of Mailer’s political books, and two of his novels. Mailer identified with Kennedy to a certain extent; they also had much in common. They were both of the same | Kennedy is also in ''Cannibals and Christians''. In fact, he is in all of Mailer’s political books, and two of his novels. Mailer identified with Kennedy to a certain extent; they also had much in common. They were both of the same | ||
generation—World War Two vets—and they were both fascinated with | generation—World War Two vets—and they were both fascinated with | ||