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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
Murder by strangulation in the opening chapter; beatings, a suicide, and physical altercations throughout
Language
Some
Profanity and crude language, particularly in violent and sexual contexts
Sexual Content
A lot
Explicit sexual content including graphic descriptions of intercourse; misogynistic treatment of female characters
Substance Use
Some
Alcohol and drug use among the social elite setting
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Psychological exploration of violence as liberation, masculine power, and American success ideology
What this book is about
Stephen Rojack, a war hero, TV personality, and Harvard professor, strangles his wealthy socialite wife Deborah in a fit of rage, then escapes justice through connections and nerve. Over one long night, he navigates beatings, a new love affair with a singer, confrontations with the mob, and the feeling that the murder has unlocked some terrifying freedom. Mailer's most controversial novel is savage, misogynistic by many readings, and viscerally alive.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Murder depicted graphically
Explicit sexual content
Strong misogynistic elements
Glorification of violence as existential freedom
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