The Naked and the Dead: 50th Anniversary Paperback - 1998

Acclaimed as a successful expression of the futility of war, Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead follows the story of an army platoon of foot soldiers fighting for the possession of the Japanese-held island of Anopopei during World War II. The novel, which embodies wartime disillusionment, is partly based on Mailer’s own experiences with the 112th Cavalry in the Pacific. Through its four parts, The Naked and the Dead addresses themes of loneliness, death of fear and dying, and brotherhood. The novel is written in gritty, journalistic detail. However, this tone was dialed back as publishers persuaded Mailer to use to euphemism “fug” in lieu of the mother of all curse words — the “F” word — in his novel.

The Naked and the Dead sold 200,000 copies in its first three months and was a New York Times best seller for over a year. Despite some controversy among critics, the novel remains important in American literature. The Naked and the Dead is ranked 51st on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. The novel was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1958.

Details

• Title The Naked and the Dead: 50th Anniversary
• Author Norman Mailer; Introduction by Norman Mailer
• Binding Paperback
• Edition 50th
• Pages 721
• Volumes 1
• Language ENG
• Publisher Henry Holt & Company, New York
• Date 1998-05
• ISBN 9780805060171 / 0805060170
• Weight 1.75 lbs (0.79 kg)
• Dimensions 8.23 x 5.49 x 1.9 in (20.90 x 13.94 x 4.83 cm)
• Library of Congress subjects Historical fiction, War stories
• Library of Congress Catalog Number 98006700
• Dewey Decimal Code FIC