This falls in line with one of those "revenge fantasies" where history and the narrative are meant to belittle and take a potentially alternate view.

In this case, since it's belittling Adolf Hitler, one of the worst humans ever, it's very enjoyable. The article is well written and interesting. It focuses mostly on Hitler's father rather than the monster himself. However, it does propose some rather astonishing claims. It suggests that Hitler is a product of incest, had incest fantasies, was a quarter Jewish, and was a Jew-loving homosexual. Imagine that!

Mailer does bring in the fantastical element as the story is told by a minor demon whose job it was to steer Hitler and his family in the right (or perhaps wrong?) direction. I guess he was successful, but the story ends as Hitler graduates his high school equivalent. So, it misses the most important years of Hitler's life. I think that would have been a lot more interesting. It would have been fascinating to see how the author would have continued to develop this alternate history and explore Hitler's actions and mindset during those crucial years.

Overall, this is an engaging and thought-provoking piece that offers a unique perspective on one of the most infamous figures in history.

This is truly an interesting piece to read.

It delves into the fascinating topic of devils and their role in the molding and influencing of evil.

While I can't say that I would recommend it to just anyone, there are certain individuals who might find it as captivating as I did.

The exploration of the concept of evil and how it is shaped by these supposed supernatural beings is both thought-provoking and engaging.

It makes one wonder about the nature of good and evil and the forces that might be at play in our world.

Whether you believe in the existence of devils or not, this article offers a unique perspective on a timeless subject.

It is definitely worth a read for those who are interested in exploring the darker side of human nature and the mysteries of the universe.

So, if you're looking for something a little different to read, give this article a try. You might just be surprised by what you discover.

A good book indeed, but it can be a bit challenging to read at times. The point of view presented in the book is extremely interesting, and the subject matter is equally engaging. However, there are occasions when there is an overabundance of detail regarding the father's thoughts and such. This requires the reader to be highly motivated in order to fully appreciate and understand the text. At times, it can be quite demanding, but despite these difficulties, I would still highly recommend this book. It offers unique insights and perspectives that are well worth the effort of reading. Whether you are a fan of the subject matter or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, this book has something to offer.

Ever read a book and think the author write it just for you? That's precisely how I feel about The Castle in the Forest. It's as if Norman Mailer had this thought: "I wonder what kind of peculiarly twisted novel I could pen to bring joy to Rena Sherwood. I know! I'll write about Hitler's childhood, but from the perspective of Hitler's guardian devil. Yeah – that'll do the trick."

In creating this strange book about one of the most outlandish men in history, Mailer treads a very delicate line between sheer brilliance and outright absurdity. I'm aware that he received an award for "worst sex scene in a novel for 2007," but I believe that's unjustified. However, in the world of publicity, no publicity is truly bad publicity. I think Mailer's eccentricity has a certain logic to it. He's not merely attempting to shock.

For instance, the command structure of the devils mirrors that of the Nazis. Hitler would only disclose to an underling what was necessary and nothing more. This led to his underlings betraying each other, which, strangely enough, made each one even more loyal to Hitler. The Maestro, the boss of Our Narrator, behaves in a similar fashion.

Our Narrator reminds me somewhat of Albert Speer. Speer, once a favorite of Hitler's, was known as a repentant Nazi. He served his time in jail after Nuremberg and authored a bestselling book, Inside the Third Reich, which was later adapted into a captivating 1982 mini-series starring Sir Derek Jacobi as Hitler and Rutger Hauer as Speer.

There is an extensive section set in Russia, which Our Narrator informs us can be skipped if we so desire. Although I appreciated the warning, I'm glad I didn't skip ahead. I found the Russian section interesting for how it developed the character of Our Narrator and foreshadowed World War II. It was Russia more than any of the other Allies that ultimately defeated the Nazis. But the country had to embrace Communism before they could incite Hitler's hatred.

Mailer also includes a lengthy bibliography at the end, listing the books that influenced The Castle in the Forest.

I will move forward with great caution and disclose no more than what was accessible to the SS.

At present, this might potentially be sufficient. There are specific details that can be provided regarding his family background. In Special Section IV-2a, as has already been expounded upon, we enveloped our discoveries in perfect secrecy. We had no choice. We were the ones who were most willing to delve into the most unpleasant questions. We had to endure the fear of unearthing answers that were toxic enough to endanger the Third Reich.

We might stumble upon an explosive truth. For instance: Was Adolf Hitler's paternal grandfather a Jew? This is just one example of the kind of revelation that could have had far-reaching consequences.

The implications of such a discovery would have been profound and could have shaken the very foundation of the Nazi ideology.

Therefore, it was crucial for us to maintain the utmost secrecy in our investigations.

I usually don't like it when people say that they "get it" and others do not. However, it seems that most people have gotten it very, very wrong about Norman Mailer's final novel.

Get over the ceaseless scatological content of The Castle in the Forest. Get over the fact that it's about the early years of Adolf Hitler. What you have left is a nuanced account of a middle class family's petty squabbles, jealousies, rivalries, unfulfilled dreams, concealed tragedies, and various other slow-burn disintegrations into a broken, weary, miserable home.

In a way, the fact that the novel centers on the young Hitler (though his father is as much of a protagonist) is both its blessing and curse. It's a blessing because we can focus the novel's psychological and psychosexual account of Hitler's development with the foreknowledge of what he became. But it's a curse because we can easily dismiss that account as a foregone conclusion and Mailer's devil-guided journey as an easy distraction.

Thus, I partly wish that The Castle weren't about Hitler so that Mailer could have written his Buddenbrooks without opening himself to the obvious criticisms. But I also partly recognize that his Buddenbrooks comes through anyway, and those who miss the point are losing out for themselves.

2023 re-read: I changed my mind - this novel is not just great but a near-masterpiece. In a weird sense, and even against the entire "hook" of the novel (how did Hitler become Hitler?), one should read Mailer's saga as a Freudian exploration of the ways in which a severely dysfunctional and psychosexually disturbed family can serve as a petri dish for an absolute monster.

What do you obtain when you combine The Psychopathic God: Adolf Hitler with The Screwtape Letters? Something along these lines - albeit a rather pale imitation of both works.

I was extremely disappointed with this book. The excessive focus on every conceivable sexual 'act' appeared to me to be a distraction from what the book was actually supposed to address: namely, what made Hitler Hitler.

There is a long (and rather graphic) description of the sexual interactions of Alois Hitler, Jr., which seems to serve no purpose whatsoever. The details of Adolf Hitler's sexual fantasies are quite creative - yet there is no historical evidence to support them.

This is a long and convoluted book that I found uninteresting and overly banal when compared to the true nature of evil. It fails to provide any real insights or understanding into the complex and disturbing figure of Adolf Hitler.

While reading this work, I simply couldn't refrain from imagining what an extraordinary book it could have been had it been penned by Thomas Bernhard. I firmly believe that Bernhard would have delved into an intriguing exploration of genuine events and individuals. For instance, Adolf Hitler's classmate Ludwig Wittgenstein.

However, the prevalence of incestuous themes within the book seems both excessive and bordering on the masturbatory. It led me to envision Norman Mailer, a father of nine, as a puritanical tool flaunting his moral superiority over Hitler. This perception is precisely contrary to what I envision a literary exploration of a dictator's psyche should entail.

Moreover, the entire demon part within the narrative strikes me as not only ridiculous but also deeply insulting.

And what was the purpose behind bringing up Tsar Nicholas? It remains a mystery to me.

Pretty weird

It is truly quite strange. This is the first time I am reading Norma Mailer. I have just begun this literary exploration, and the experience so far has been rather unusual.

The writing style, the themes, and the overall atmosphere of the work seem to be quite different from what I am accustomed to. I am not entirely sure if it is just a matter of personal preference or if there is something more profound that I am yet to discover.

Perhaps I will give it a bit more time and see if I can gradually understand and appreciate the nuances of Mailer's writing. However, at this point, I am also considering trying a different work by a different author.

Maybe that will provide a more familiar and engaging reading experience. But then again, it could also be that by persevering with Mailer, I will uncover a whole new world of literature that I never knew existed. Only time will tell.

A mid-level devil assigned to assist in the nurturing of a bad seed serves as the narrator in this account of Hitler's parents and the initial 15 years of his life.

The story delves into the early years of Hitler, exploring the circumstances and events that might have contributed to the development of his future ideology.

Mailer's effort is given substance by a bibliography of 130 works, which likely provides a comprehensive and in-depth look at the historical context and relevant details.

This unique perspective of using a devil as the narrator adds an interesting and perhaps even disturbing element to the narrative, allowing the reader to view Hitler's formative years from an unusual vantage point.

Overall, the combination of the devil narrator and the extensive bibliography makes this a potentially engaging and thought-provoking exploration of Hitler's early life.

Mailer has not been deceived this time either. The book remains in its position despite being in a pile better than the corresponding Gospel of the Son. The translation is quite good.

This statement seems to suggest that Mailer has some sort of perception or evaluation regarding a particular book and its translation. It implies that Mailer has expectations or standards that the book and its translation have met or exceeded.

The comparison to the Gospel of the Son might indicate that Mailer is familiar with both works and is making a relative assessment. Perhaps the book in question has qualities or characteristics that Mailer finds more appealing or engaging than those of the Gospel of the Son.

Overall, this brief passage provides some insight into Mailer's view of the book and its translation, but leaves many questions unanswered. It would be interesting to know more about Mailer's specific thoughts and the context in which this evaluation was made.

It was a story that held an interesting overall premise.

At first glance, it seemed to have the potential to captivate and engage the reader.

However, as the narrative unfolded, it became evident that the execution and the story itself were rather unentertaining.

The pacing was slow, and the events lacked excitement and drama.

The characters were not well-developed, making it difficult for the reader to form an emotional connection with them.

The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, further detracting from the overall experience.

Despite the promising premise, the story failed to deliver in terms of entertainment value.

It left the reader feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

Perhaps with some revisions and improvements in the execution, the story could have been more engaging and enjoyable.

As it stands, however, it falls short of expectations.