Lipton’s Journal/Correspondence of Robert Lindner and Norman Mailer/February 3, 1955

From Project Mailer
NORMAN MAILER’s Letters
To Norman Mailer
February 3, 1955

Dear Norman,

I have been so tremendously excited about the last two installments of the Journal that I can hardly wait to talk with you about them. I want to urge you very strongly to re-read Rebel Without A Cause—forget the expository material and read only Harold’s productions. Moreover, I think it is imperative that you follow up your insights on the sexual life of saints, by getting hold of St. Theresa’s[1] books and whatever other writings of this kind you can find. Huxley’s Devils of Loudun[2] will also give you some important leads.

As usual I don’t have time for a real letter, but I have to tell you that I actually anticipated your situation with Dissent—after reading the last issue I determined not to renew my subscription for the exact reasons you describe in the Journal. Which brings me to Note #344, which, I think—if developed—would say the first significant words on the whole problem.

So far no word from my brother or about a brief trip to New York next week. Will let you know as soon as I can.

Love,
B

P.S. Just received a wire stating that Mannie, my brother, will be here for the weekend. Will call you early next week to arrange for your coming down next weekend—Great!



notes

  1. ↑ A Carmelite nun and mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) was canonized in 1622. Her religious visions of spiritual ecstasy have often been seen as orgasmic, as a look at Bernini’s 1652 statue, The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, demonstrates.
  2. ↑ A nonfiction account by Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) of the mass hysteria and purported demonic possession of a convent of Ursuline nuns in the small French town of Loudun in 1634.
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