The Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History: Amazon.ca: Norman Mailer: Books

Frequently Bought Together

+

+

Price For All Three: CDN$ 37.54

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

Buy the selected items together

This item: The Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History by Norman Mailer Paperback CDN$ 12.64

Usually ships within 6 to 7 days.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
Paul's Case by Lynn Crosbie Paperback CDN$ 13.71

Usually ships within 2 to 4 weeks.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion Paperback CDN$ 11.19

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details

Product Description

Book Description

One of the first examples of "new journalism" daringly combines reportage with a novelistic style and garnered Mailer his first Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award in 1968.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
From the outset, let us bring you news of your protagonist. Read the first page

Explore More
Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars At war with oneself, July 16 2005

By

Wallace Rutherford - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History (Paperback)

Most interesting to me, being a rather apolitical person, was the way Mailer described his "image" as a being completely outside of himself, and how the character "Mailer" in the book can be seen as his image, while the Narrator can be seen as the real Mailer. Mailer is an enjoyable author to read, as his utterly opinionated and iconoclastic personality cannot be kept apart from his subject matter, a fact that is all the more true for ARMIES OF THE NIGHT. I was surprised how much self-awareness he actually possesses... writing in the third person allowed him to step outside himself and observe some of his more unusual personality traits. I also enjoyed the books BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and the new novel KITE RUNNER-----that is, if you're looking for something really different and great to read.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars absorbing, explosive writing from great American novelist, July 1 2004

By

C. Parr "C. Parr" (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History (Paperback)

Always appreciate reading the other reviews from Mailer's right-wing detractors: great laugh, it really is, talking about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WRITING (mentioning unsavoury details about his private life - how noble and intelligent, as befits this pondlife trash). Anyway, the concept of this novel is a wonderful one, turning the history as novel and novel as history themes on their head. There are some great anecdotes here, with Mailer (writing what he knows, as all good writers do) uncompromisingly and combatively taking on the might of authority and Pentagon power. Memorable incidents include his being semi-drunk on stage at Washington's Ambassador theatre comparing himself to Lyndon B. Johnson's "dwarf altar-ego." The march itself, the subsequent arrest and his riding with the 'Armies of the Night' along America's broad, epic roads - the mass of people opposed to the War. Mailer's polemic is similarly spot-on - his prediction that "the biggest danger to Communism was Communism itself" is borne out by historical fact. This was predicted in 1967 - the USSR was never defeated militarily. Its collapse was due to the financial flws inherent in the system's structure - it could not economically sustain itself. It was, contrary to certain people, of little threat and was never defeated militarily. Mailer's prediction is exact, unfortunately not heeded by the denizens of his country's own political landscape. Another thing is that Mailer makes constant references to his fondness for America and its history. Always accused - like all great American artists - of despising the US, you criticise aspects of the country in order to prevent its abuse and perversion. This is because he loves the country, not because he hates it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars An account that's better than history, grander than fiction!, Jan 29 2004

By

Ted Burke "Ted Burke" (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History (Paperback)

Mailer's 1968 account of the march on the Pentagon is something of a great and sweeping read where all of Mailer's skittish brillance falls into place. With nearly every facet of the counter culture gathering in Washington DC to give voice the commanding idea that the Viet Nam War was a folly that is at heart evil --antiwar protestors, Yippies, Quakers, poets, beats, rock stars, various drugged out crazies, nuns and ministers--Mailer was the superb witness to the events as they unfolded.

The book is cranky, spirited, rolling with the metahors and acid insights that the mature Mailer manages; he is a subtle and rich noticer of small things, bits of business, gestures, facial expressions. Indeed, "Armies of the Night" is as much a comedy of manners as it is literary journalism. The shrewd and blunt estimations of Robert Lowell and Dwight MacDonald are wonders of the whole-honed phrase.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 14 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 21 reviews 3.9 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Baby Boomers only
For those of us born after the events of October 21, 1967, the book is a disappointment. Mailer fails to offer better explanations of important characters that were icons of the... Read more

Published on Jun 18 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars The Armies of the Night
Winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for General-Non Fiction, Norman Mailer demonstrates his considerable skills of observation & insight: As Novelist, Historian, and Journalist... Read more

Published on Dec 17 2002 by Richard Cunningham