The Executioner’s Song
The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer is a reprint edition published by Grand Central Publishing on May 8, 2012, featuring 1136 pages in English. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work explores the life of convicted killer Gary Gilmore, who gained notoriety after committing two murders in 1976 and subsequently sought execution. The narrative delves into Gilmore’s struggle against a legal system that seemed reluctant to carry out his death sentence, highlighting the complexities of his character and the circumstances surrounding his actions.
Readers will find a detailed account of not only Gilmore’s life but also the stories of those affected by his crimes, all presented with Mailer’s distinctive authority and compassion. The book examines themes of crime and biographical elements, offering insights into the emotional landscape of Gilmore’s life and the societal issues that contribute to violence and loneliness in America. This edition invites readers to engage with a profound exploration of morality and the human condition, set against the stark backdrop of Utah.
Official synopsis Publisher
Norman Mailer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and unforgettable classic about convicted killer Gary Gilmore now in a brand-new edition.
Arguably the greatest book from America’s most heroically ambitious writer, THE EXECUTIONER’S SONG follows the short, blighted life of Gary Gilmore who became famous after he robbed two men in 1976 and killed them in cold blood. After being tried and convicted, he immediately insisted on being executed for his crime. To do so, he fought a system that seemed intent on keeping him alive long after it had sentenced him to death. And that fight for the right to die is what made him famous.
Mailer tells not only Gilmore’s story, but those of the men and women caught in the web of his life and drawn into his procession toward the firing squad. All with implacable authority, steely compassion, and a restraint that evokes the parched landscape and stern theology of Gilmore’s Utah. THE EXECUTIONER’S SONG is a trip down the wrong side of the tracks to the deepest source of American loneliness and violence. It is a towering achievement-impossible to put down, impossible to forget.
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