1941 - Project Mailer

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Norman Mailer: Works and Days
Frontmatter
Preface • Lennon Introduction • Lucas Introduction • Acknowledgments and Appreciations
Bibliographies
First Editions • Key Texts • Bibliographies • Biographies • Criticism • Cultural Backgrounds
Works
Works Index • NM’s Introductions • The Big Bite • Mailer for Mayor • Abbott Affair
Days
Days Index • Important Dates
Index
Index of Names • Works Categories • Days Categories
Books • Projects
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Mailer takes a two-semester writing course (1940–1941) from Robert Gorham Davis, who becomes his first writing mentor. He writes several stories for the class, including “The Greatest Thing in the World” (41.1).

In April, Mailer is accepted to the editorial board of the college's literary magazine, The Harvard Advocate, which that same month publishes “The Greatest Thing in the World.” In late spring, it wins Story magazine's eighth annual college contest and a $100 prize, and gains some attention from New York publishers. In May, he is elected to the Signet Society, a merit-based luncheon club. In September, completes "No Percentage", a novel (408 manuscript pages) set in Long Branch and Brooklyn, still unpublished.

In mid-December, meets his first wife, Beatrice Silverman, a Boston University music major who lives in nearby Chelsea.

NM at Harvard in 1941.

v t e Norman Mailer: Works and Days — 1940s
1850s 1860s 1870s 1890s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
1941	41.1
1942	42.1 42.2
1943	—
1944	44.1
1945	—
1946	—
1947	—
1948	48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 48.5 48.6 48.7 48.8 48.9 48.10 48.11 48.12 48.13
1949	49.1 49.2 49.2a 49.2b 49.2c 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6

v t e Norman Mailer: Works and Days — 1950s
1850s 1860s 1870s 1890s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
1950	—
1951	51.1 51.2 51.3 51.3a 51.4 51.5
1952	52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3
1953	53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5
1954	54.1 54.2 54.3
1955	55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 55.6 55.7 55.8
1956	56.1 56.2 56.3 56.4 56.5 56.6 56.7 56.8 56.9 56.10 56.11 56.12 56.13 56.14 56.15 56.16 56.17 56.18 56.19 56.20 56.21 56.22 56.23 56.24 56.25 56.26
1957	57.1 57.2
1958	58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 58.4a 58.4b 58.5 58.6 58.7
1959	59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 59.8 59.8a 59.9 59.10 59.11 59.12 59.13 59.14 59.15 59.16 59.17 59.18 59.19