Vol. 11 No. 1 (2017)
Volume 11 of The Mailer Review (Fall 2017) documents a moment of transition and continuity in Mailer studies, shaped both by institutional challenges and by an expanding range of critical and archival work. A central feature of Volume 11 is its attention to Mailer’s presence beyond the printed page, particularly in film, biography, and lived cultural memory. The issue includes Sipiora’s interview with Michael Mailer, which offers insight into Mailer’s work in cinema and the transmission of artistic legacy across generations. Several essays examine Mailer’s engagement with film and visual culture, including analyses of Beyond the Law and Mailer’s broader experiments with genre and performance.
The volume also foregrounds biographical and familial perspectives, including reflections on Mailer’s early life and public persona. Essays and reminiscences address Mailer’s Jewish identity, childhood, and formative environments, while a collaborative piece by Gregory Bellow, Kaylie Jones, and Susan Mailer explores the experience of growing up as the children of major American writers. These contributions expand the scope of Mailer studies by situating his work within networks of family, influence, and inheritance.
Volume 11 further serves as a site of remembrance and scholarly continuity. Sipiora marks the passing of Andrew M. Gordon, a longtime contributor to Mailer studies, and the issue includes Gordon’s essay on Mailer’s 1986 visit to Gainesville, preserving both critical insight and historical record. The volume is rounded out by book reviews, creative works, and an updated bibliography compiled by Shannon L. Zinck, reinforcing the journal’s role as a key research resource.
Taken together, Volume 11 reflects The Mailer Review’s ongoing commitment to combining critical analysis, documentary preservation, and personal history. The issue captures a field attentive not only to interpretation but also to legacy, loss, and the institutional labor required to sustain long-term scholarly inquiry.
