ARTS . Arts Picks

Norman Mailer

Tue. March 27, 8 p.m., Philadelphia Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St.


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Published: Mar 20, 2007

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Norman Mailer's never been one to shy away from controversy. As one of the innovators of creative nonfiction, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner has famously tackled Gary Gilmore, Lee Harvey Oswald and Marilyn Monroe (earning himself some serious flak for supposing that jealous CIA and FBI agents killed Norma Jeane). With his new The Castle in the Forest (Random House), his first book since adding his own spin to the life of Jesus Christ in 1997's The Gospel According to the Son, the octogenarian Mailer sets his sights on the young years of Adolf Hitler. His portrait of the murderous dictator as a young man is told through the eyes of D.T., a midlevel demon in Satan's army assigned to little Adolf. D.T., who was apparently even present when Hitler was incestuously conceived, weaves a Freudian tale rife with beekeeping and scatology that explores nature vs. nurture as it pertains to evil. Ultimately, Mailer says, while intervention causes true evil, mankind would be wise to remember to never lay the blame for horror at the feet of an individual.

Tue. March 27, 8 p.m., $6-$12, Philadelphia Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, www.library.phila.gov.