An American Dream-Scene: Inside an Army Tent in Vietnam

DATE OF REVIEW - 3/22/1965
AN AMERICAN DREAM
By Norman Mailer
Publisher - Dial Press, 1965
SCENE: Inside an Army Tent in 
 Vietnam. Tent is lit by
 a gasoline lantern. (First)
 Soldier is sitting on Cot,
 writing letter. (Second)
 Soldier enters tent & sits
 on another cot, Reads An 
 American Dream for a minute,
 then speaks.
 (First soldier looks old enough 
 to have children. Second soldier
 can be younger.)
 2nd Soldier: "Who you writing to?"
 1st Soldier: "Judy and the kids. Watcha reading?"
 2nd Soldier: "New novel by Norman Mailer, the guy that wrote
 The Naked and the Dead. You read that?"
 1st Soldier: "I read it twice. Good book. Old Mailer knew the
 the army all right. This new thing any good?"
 2nd Soldier: "I don't know for sure. I'm about halfway through
 it, and I can't figure out what he's trying to say
 1st Soldier: "What's he call it? Is it as rugged as The Naked and the Dead?"
2nd Solder holds book up
so first soldier can see 2nd Soldier: "Dad you know it. It's called An American Dream,
cover and camera can show it. and it's pretty wild in spots. My girl friend sent 
 it to me, and I don't know if she read it, but
 there's some parts I'd just as soon she skip."
 1st Soldier: "Let's see it a minute." 
Second Soldier Tosses "What does the dust jacket say?"
book to first. (1st Soldier Quotes From Jacket Blurb)
(As second soldier listens, "The hero of An American Dream is Stephen
 he can nod agreement now Richards Rojack, a war hero, college 
 and then.) professor, television performer and the 
 husband of an immensely wealthy girl."
 An American Dream Page 2
 
 2nd Soldier: "You read that very well."
 (1st Soldier continues after shrugging off comment)
 "The time of the novel is 32 hours. In those
 32 hours Rojack journeys through every imaginable
 evil, and some all but unimaginable pleasures--
 an existential pilgrimage of great peril, of 
 profound suspense." 
 (2nd Soldier, Interrupting Again:)
 "I don't know about that suspense jazz."
 1st Soldier: (Continues)
 "The milieu of An American Dream is New York City -- 
 the night-time of plush East Side duplex apartments.
 2nd Soldier: "I'd rather be there than here."
 1st Soldier: (Continues)
 "of police precinct stations, of after-hours clubs,
 of Lower East Side tenements... Onto this 
 environment Mailer impresses his singular imagination
 creating a classic world of action and horror that
 takes on the dimensions of an American myth."
 "This doesn't sound so confusing. What do you mean,
 you don't know what it's about?"
 2nd Soldier: "What I mean, old buddy, is I know what Mailer wrote. 
 I just don't know what he's trying to get at."
 1st Soldier: "Well, should I read it or not?"
 Page 3
 An American Dream
 
 2nd Soldier: "Lemme put it this way, Dad. I wouldn't recommend
 it for my mother 'cause she'd give me you-know-
 what for reading a dirty book. You remember that 
 part of the jacket you read where it said the 
 hero is a television performer? Well, he's even
 more of a bedroom performer, so I guess that lets
 out anybody who gets shocked easy. When you come
 right down to it, I'd say I'm about the only 
 person I know who's worldly enough to read it
 without getting all shook up."
 1st Soldier: "Well, I'm older than you, and I'm twice as
 worldly. Just you let me read it, and I'll tell
 you what it's all about. OK?"
 2nd Soldier: "Good Luck, Frank Buck."
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 Review written by Donald M. Boucher