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{{DISPLAYTITLE:<span style="font-size:22px;">{{BASEPAGENAME}}/</span>''On the armies of the night''
{{MR2}}
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{{byline|Last=Mailer|First=Norman|Abstract= On The Armies of the Night]].|url:https://prmlr.us/mr16gord}}
{{byline|Last=Gordon|First=Neil|Abstract= On The Armies of the Night]].|url:https://prmlr.us/mr16gord}}


I am six years older than Norman Mailer when he wrote ''In Armies of the Night''. In 1968, its year of publication, I was 10. I come to this book therefore
I am six years older than Norman Mailer when he wrote ''On Armies of the Night''. In 1968, its year of publication, I was 10. I come to this book therefore
from a position perhaps somewhat different from my colleagues here.
from a position perhaps somewhat different from my colleagues here.
I come to it looking for an insight into the origins of my own political consciousness.
I come to it looking for an insight into the origins of my own political consciousness.
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modes of political thought. Mailer describes for us the tangle of
modes of political thought. Mailer describes for us the tangle of
“Communist, Trotskyist, Splinter Marxist, Union Organizer, or plain Social
“Communist, Trotskyist, Splinter Marxist, Union Organizer, or plain Social
Democrat,” and how these groups finally, “succeeded in smashing the bones
Democrat,”and how these groups finally, “succeeded in smashing the bones
of their own movement into the hundred final slivers of American Marxism,
of their own movement into the hundred final slivers of American Marxism,
miniscule radical sects complete each with their own special martyred
miniscule radical sects complete each with their own special martyred
genius of a Marxicologist.” He gives us access to the great disappointed hope
genius of a Marxicologist.”{{sfn|Gordon|2008 |p=109}} He gives us access to the great disappointed hope
of the Labor Movement, in which “Communists and Trotskyites, Splinterites,
of the Labor Movement, in which “Communists and Trotskyites, Splinterites,
and Reutherites ultimately came to sit closer to the Mafia than to
and Reutherites ultimately came to sit closer to the Mafia than to
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who were finally indifferent to the blockhouse polemics of the past,  
who were finally indifferent to the blockhouse polemics of the past,  
and the real nature of the Soviet. It was the real injustice in America which attracted
and the real nature of the Soviet. It was the real injustice in America which attracted
their attention—poverty, civil rights, an end to censorship” {{sfn|Mailer|2008 |p=120}}
their attention—poverty, civil rights, an end to censorship” {{sfn|Gordon|2008 |p=120}}
It is a genealogy of the New Left that, if we wish to understand who we are
It is a genealogy of the New Left that, if we wish to understand who we are
as Liberals and Radicals in America today, we need to master in its details.
as Liberals and Radicals in America today, we need to master in its details.
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<blockquote> Night was on. The demonstrators were entering the last few hours of their march on the Pentagon. They were tired, exceptionally tired, they felt vulnerable—their aggression, their ability even to defend themselves now used up by endless calls over the hours for more adrenaline; yes, the mood was pacifistic,almost saintly, but very weak. In the night, they were all close to
<blockquote> Night was on. The demonstrators were entering the last few hours of their march on the Pentagon. They were tired, exceptionally tired, they felt vulnerable—their aggression, their ability even to defend themselves now used up by endless calls over the hours for more adrenaline; yes, the mood was pacifistic,almost saintly, but very weak. In the night, they were all close to
each other.Quietly They were waiting. The walls of the Pentagon bulked large.{{sfn|Mailer|2008 |p=309}}</blockquote>
each other.Quietly They were waiting. The walls of the Pentagon bulked large.{{sfn|Gordon|2008 |p=309}}</blockquote>


We are seeing, here, a great American writer at the height of his powers.  
We are seeing, here, a great American writer at the height of his powers.  
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the allied bombing of Germany during World War II, ''The Natural History of Destruction''. In it, if I may simplify somewhat, Sebald suggests that the truth or falsehood of a description of historical event is not to be judged by the
the allied bombing of Germany during World War II, ''The Natural History of Destruction''. In it, if I may simplify somewhat, Sebald suggests that the truth or falsehood of a description of historical event is not to be judged by the
number of facts or witnesses but by the integrity and poetry of the language
number of facts or witnesses but by the integrity and poetry of the language
of description. By this standard, ''The Armies of the Night'' makes a huge and
of description. By this standard,{{sfn|Gordon|2008 |p=310}} ''On The Armies of the Night'' makes a huge and
durable case for the supremacy of the novelist’s empathetic imagination
durable case for the supremacy of the novelist’s empathetic imagination
over, the “mere recitation of facts.”
over, the “mere recitation of facts.”
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Pentagon ''On The Armies of the Night'' .”
Pentagon ''On The Armies of the Night'' .”


''This paper was presented on October 19, 2007 at Georgetown University.The conference was the “40th anniversary conference on The March on thePentagon/The Armies of the Night''
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}''This paper was presented on October 19, 2007 at Georgetown University.The conference was the “40th anniversary conference on The March on thePentagon/The Armies of the Night."


==Works Cited==
==Citations==
{{Reflist}}
 
==WORK CITED==
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{On The Armies of the Night}}|Mailer|Norman|1968|Ref=harv
Gordon,Neil(2008)."Normans Mailer:"On The Armies of The Night"
 
{{Review}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:On The Armies Of The Night}}
 
[[Category:V.2 Fall 2008]]
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