The Executioner's Song

by Norman Mailer
The Executioner's Song cover
Good Books rating 4.5
True Crime
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Paperback • £18.99
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  • ID: 863
  • Added: 2025-09-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9780099688600
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1991-01-01
  • Formats: 25
  • Reviews: 4

In the summer of 1976, Gary Gilmore committed two brutal murders and was sentenced to Death Row, where he surprisingly sought execution. His defiance of the system and the ensuing legal battle captivated the world, making him a controversial figure. The book delves into the psychological and ethical complexities of capital punishment, as well as the media frenzy that surrounded Gilmore's final days. Norman Mailer's gripping account is not just a retelling of Gilmore's crimes but an exploration of the man behind them. With meticulous detail and profound insight, Mailer examines the societal and personal factors that led to Gilmore's actions, providing a nuanced portrait of a troubled individual and the justice system that grappled with his demands.

Reviews
The New York Times · 2025-10-16
engrossing 4.50

The reviewer praises Mailer's unique voice and his ability to capture the authentic Western tone, highlighting the book's gripping narrative.

The reviewer is struck by Mailer's boldness in tackling such a dark and complex subject. They highlight the authentic Western voice that permeates the book, making it a compelling read. The narrative is described as gripping, with a raw and unflinching look at the human condition. The reviewer suggests that Mailer's approach is unparalleled, making this a standout work in his oeuvre.

Quick quotes

    I think no one but Mailer could have dared this book.

    The authentic Western voice, the voice heard in 'The Executioner's Song,' is one heard often in life but rarely captured so effectively in literature.

    Mailer's perverse admiration for Gilmore shines through the pages.

The New York Times · 2025-10-15
powerful 4.50

The reviewer praises Norman Mailer's unique voice and the book's authentic Western feel, highlighting its daring narrative. The book captures a voice often heard in life but rarely in literature.

This review from The New York Times highlights the unique voice and daring narrative of 'The Executioner's Song.' The reviewer emphasizes how Mailer captures a distinctly Western voice, one that feels authentic and rarely heard in literature. The book's ability to convey this voice is seen as a significant achievement, showcasing Mailer's skill in storytelling.

Quick quotes

    I think no one but Mailer could have dared this book.

    The authentic Western voice, the voice heard in 'The Executioner's Song,' is one heard often in life but ...

    Mailer's unique voice and the book's authentic Western feel.

746books.com · Unknown · 2025-10-01
compelling 4.50

The Executioner's Song is one of Norman Mailer's best works, praised for its spare and quiet retelling of a double murderer's life. The book's simple, declarative style is a departure from Mailer's usual attention-grabbing and chaotic writing, making it disarming and riveting. The reviewer appreciates the book's focus on human agency and the stark, unadorned prose.

The Executioner's Song stands out as one of Norman Mailer's most compelling works, marked by its stark and quiet narrative. Unlike his earlier, more chaotic and attention-grabbing writing, this book presents a simple, declarative style that is both refreshing and engaging. The story of Gary Gilmore, a double murderer, is told with a focus on human agency and the potential for redemption, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read. The reviewer notes that Mailer's ability to capture the flat, blank voices of the American Midwest adds a sense of desolation and poignancy to the narrative. The book's success lies in its ability to make familiar material feel new and its commitment to common language, which is a departure from Mailer's usual grandiose style.

Quick quotes

    The flatness and tight-lipped quiet of The Executioner's Song after several decades of Mailer's attention-grabbing real-life excursions is what made it so disarming, then very quickly riveting.

    The simple declarative sentence, hosed clean of beardy metaphors, adverbial and adjectival excess, of discursive detail and baroque, often bonkers, 'existential' riffing, is something that Mailer had always seemed congenitally incapable of writing.

    The flat, blank voices of the American Midwest, the voices of the people who were related to Gary Gilmore, or whose lives were otherwise rent by being dragged into Gilmore's orbit, seem to assume an added poignancy or sense of desolation by being transcribed by a writer for whom their very flatness and blankness represents a kind of dusty-throated deprivation.

reddit.com · Unknown · 2025-10-01
thought-provoking 4.50

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer is a gripping and meticulously researched account of Gary Gilmore's life and execution. The book's raw and unflinching portrayal of the criminal justice system and the death penalty leaves a lasting impact.

The Executioner's Song is a monumental work that delves deep into the life of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer, and his eventual execution. Mailer's extensive research and detailed storytelling bring the characters and events to life, making it a compelling read. The book's exploration of the criminal justice system and the moral implications of the death penalty is both thought-provoking and unsettling. The raw and unvarnished portrayal of Gilmore's life and the impact of his crimes on those around him is both harrowing and enlightening. It's a book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.

Quick quotes

    The book is a masterclass in non-fiction storytelling.

    Mailer's portrayal of Gilmore is both chilling and sympathetic.

    The Executioner's Song is a powerful exploration of the death penalty and its consequences.

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