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Barbary Shore

norman mailer

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Mike Lovett rents a room in a Brooklyn boarding house with the intention of writing a novel. Wounded during World War II, Lovett is an amnesiac, and much of his past is a secret to himself. But Lovett's housemates have secrets of their own. As these mysterious figures vie for Lovett's allegiance, Barbary Shore plays havoc with our certainties, combining Kafkaesque unease with Orwellian paranoia and delivering its effects with a power that Mailer has made all his own.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1952

This edition

Format
320 pages, Paperback
Published
September 30, 1997 by Vintage
ISBN
9780375700392
ASIN
0375700390
Language
English

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About the author

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norman mailer

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Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.

Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, and Tom Wolfe, Mailer is considered an innovator of creative nonfiction, a genre sometimes called New Journalism, but which covers the essay to the nonfiction novel. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice and the National Book Award once. In 1955, Mailer, together with Ed Fancher and Dan Wolf, first published The Village Voice, which began as an arts- and politics-oriented weekly newspaper initially distributed in Greenwich Village. In 2005, he won the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from The National Book Foundation.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 67 votes)
5 stars
22(33%)
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13(19%)
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32(48%)
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67 reviews All reviews
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LordKage
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Mailer is pitiless.

He is a tough writer whose works can only be read when one has a heart of steel.

His writing often delves into the darker aspects of human nature, exploring themes such as violence, sex, and death.

Mailer's prose is unflinching and uncompromising, and he does not shy away from presenting the ugliest truths about society and the human condition.

While his works may be difficult to read at times, they are also powerful and thought-provoking, challenging readers to confront their own beliefs and values.

Overall, Mailer is a controversial but important figure in American literature, and his works continue to be studied and debated to this day.
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Stacys__Mom
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A claustrophobic and overwrought novel unfolds, presenting a gripping tale of characters who find themselves in a frenzy as they drive each other crazy during the hunt for Communists. The story is set in a tense and paranoid atmosphere, where suspicion and fear run rampant. The characters are complex and flawed, each with their own motives and insecurities. As they search for the supposed Communists, their relationships become strained and frayed. The novel delves deep into the psychological turmoil of the characters, exploring themes of paranoia, hysteria, and the breakdown of social order. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

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supremetai28
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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When you embark on the journey of exploring a writer's work, there inevitably comes a time when you decide to delve into the lesser-known aspects of their career. This includes the awkward phases, the ambitious yet ill-conceived projects, and the embarrassing failures. Usually, the intention is to uncover something that has long remained hidden from the majority of readers, who may not appreciate the brilliance of the said writer as much as you do. It's about waiting for that moment when you can finally proclaim a particular work as the misunderstood masterpiece it truly is. You might say, "Yeah, everyone thinks [a certain work] is his best work, but it's [another work] that those who actually 'get' [the writer] know is his magnum opus."

I had hoped that "Barbary Shore" would be such a novel among the triumphs and even controversial disasters of Norman Mailer. However, it turns out not to be the case. It might hold some value for those who yearn for what could have been of Mailer as a socially conscious leftist and a writer of sober yet still strange prose. But the most astonishing thing about it is how dull it is. Even when not writing in the hallucinatory, hyper-sensual style of "An American Dream" or the first-person electric reporting of "Miami and the Siege of Chicago," Mailer is typically an evocative writer, as seen in works like "The Naked and the Dead," "The Executioner's Song," and "The Castle in the Forest." Here, everything feels too flat and timid. The protagonist, Michael Lovett, is a war-inflicted amnesiac, but that doesn't mean he has to be so passive and blank. None of the characters, except perhaps Guinevere, ring true. Especially Lannie, a mental health casualty cliché. The psychosexual chamber play doesn't fit well with the socialist hand-wringing political drama. And when, in its second half, the narrative gets bogged down in didactic speechifying, all hope is lost. The problem here is false modesty, both aesthetically and scopically. I can't think of a trait that suits Mailer less than politeness.

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tarunnihariya
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The novel had its moments when it seemed a bit too pedagogical. It was advisable not to peek at the last page until one naturally reached it. Even when arriving at the last page in a timely manner, it could still be a spoiler.

In fact, if this novel was considered to be one of his poorest works, I would still look forward to reading one or two more of his works. There might be hidden gems or unique aspects in his other writings that could offer a different and more satisfying reading experience.

Despite the flaws in this particular novel, the author's overall body of work might hold great potential. I am curious to see if there are other novels that could showcase his true talent and creativity.

Perhaps the next novel I read by him will be a masterpiece that will change my perception of his writing. I am excited to embark on this literary journey and discover what lies ahead.
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Episode_12
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The power of the narrative in this book is truly remarkable. It has the ability to draw the reader in and keep them engaged from start to finish.

Coupled with this is the author's deep understanding of political systems. This understanding adds another layer of depth to the story, making it not only an entertaining read but also a highly educational one.

The combination of these two elements makes this an intense and thought-provoking book. It forces the reader to question their own beliefs and assumptions about politics and society.

Whether you are interested in politics, history, or simply a good story, this book is definitely worth reading. It will leave you with a new perspective on the world and a greater appreciation for the power of the written word.
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Cinda2020
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Norman Mailer simply isn't to my taste.
I made an attempt to read "The Naked and the Dead", yet I couldn't maintain my interest as I failed to perceive the direction in which the story was headed. The identical situation occurred with "Barbary Shore".
The issue lies in the absence of a plot. The protagonist and other characters lack desires, thus there is no incentive to read about them. I firmly believe that Mailer just woke up each morning and began fabricating the story as he progressed.
There are indeed interesting characters within the book. The promiscuous landlady, her intellectually challenged daughter, the sleazy young roommate, and the wise old man. Everyone embodies that sort of 1950s toughness, with the exception of the naïve young lady who appears halfway through the book.
I am unable to convey to you what this book is about other than a group of individuals who reside in an apartment building, simply lounge around, engage in conversations, and attempt to have sexual encounters with one another. I don't prefer abandoning a book without completing it, but similar to "The Naked and the Dead", I simply wasn't engaged in what these people were doing and dreaded picking up the book.

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Breixlia
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A short, but great, story.

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Tom. He lived in a small village with his parents. Tom was a curious and kind-hearted child. One day, while exploring the forest near his village, he came across a little bird that had fallen out of its nest.

Tom felt sorry for the bird and decided to help it. He carefully picked up the bird and looked around for its nest. After a while, he found the nest and gently placed the bird back in it.

The mother bird returned to the nest and saw her baby safe and sound. She chirped happily and flew around Tom, as if thanking him. Tom was very pleased to have helped the little bird.

From that day on, Tom became even more kind to all the animals in the forest. He knew that every living thing deserved to be treated with respect and kindness. And this simple act of kindness made Tom a truly great person in the eyes of those who knew him.

This short story teaches us that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big difference in the world. We should all strive to be like Tom and show kindness to those around us.
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ryuLzei
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This book is truly 70 years ahead of its time, yet unfortunately, it is a steaming pile of raving bullshit. The speech about late-stage capitalism in Chapter 29 is, surprisingly, well-written, considering the incoherence that plagues the rest of the book. However, it is also wrong. As another reviewer astutely pointed out, the entire novel seems to be nothing more than an excuse for this character to deliver this speech. To get to that point, we are presented with a barely coherent plot, populated by incoherent /r/antiwork space cases. But even those people wouldn't find enjoyment in this book. There does seem to be a sincere effort put into its writing, which reveals the essence of Mailer in all his unconscious futility and despair. In the initial chapters, I had anticipated that Barbary Shore would simply fail to go anywhere, perhaps just a cash grab after The Naked and the Dead. But it actually subverts even the most meager expectations of novelistic enjoyment. Ironically, it reminds me of a scene in Mailer's aforementioned debut, where a general becomes inspired to wax philosophical in his journal, only to re-read his thoughts and feel humiliation at how confident he had been in recording such circular, unoriginal musings. No doubt the success of Mailer's debut had wrongly assured him that this could never happen to him. Aside from the shameful political pandering, Mailer's greatest mistake is his use of the first-person. The narrator, whose amnesia is never justified, only serves to slow down a narrative that was already burdened with the fatal flaw of being absolutely pointless. The only good thing about Barbary Shore is this little-used cover art of a window shaped like a sail. It's honestly one of the best book covers I own.

The cover art stands out as a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster literary offering. It has a certain charm and elegance that the actual content of the book fails to match. One can't help but wonder if Mailer put more thought and effort into the cover design than into the writing itself.

Overall, Barbary Shore is a disappointment. It fails to deliver on multiple fronts, from its incoherent plot to its unconvincing characters and its missteps in narrative structure. While it may have some redeeming qualities, such as the well-written speech in Chapter 29, these are not enough to salvage the overall experience. It's a book that will likely be forgotten in the annals of literary history, overshadowed by Mailer's more successful works.

As for the cover art, it will continue to be a source of aesthetic pleasure for me, a reminder of the potential that this book failed to realize. It's a beautiful piece of art that deserves to be appreciated, even if the book it adorns does not.

In conclusion, Barbary Shore is a cautionary tale about the importance of substance over style. While a great cover can attract readers, it can't make up for a lackluster story. Mailer would do well to remember this in his future works.
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