The Executioner’s Song
by Norman Mailer
The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer holds a highly rated rating of 4.07 out of 5, based on 13.8K reader ratings. First published in 1979. The book spans 1,056 pages.
About The Executioner's Song
In what is arguably his greatest work, America's most heroically ambitious writer follows the short, blighted career of Gary Gilmore, an intractably violent product of America's prisons who became notorious for two reasons: first, for robbing two men in 1976, then killing them in cold blood; and, second, after being tried and convicted, for insisting on dying for his crime. To do so, he had to fight a system that seemed paradoxically intent on keeping him alive long after it had sentenced him to death.Norman Mailer tells Gilmore's story--and those of the men and women caught up in his procession toward the firing squad--with implacable authority, steely compassion, and a restraint that evokes the parched landscapes and stern theology of Gilmore's Utah. The Executioner's Song is a trip down the wrong side of the tracks to the deepest sources of American loneliness and violence. It is a towering achievement--impossible to put down, impossible to forget.Winner of the 1980 Pulitzer Prize
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Norman Mailer |
| Published | 1979 |
| Pages | 1,056 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Biography & Memoir, Classics, History |
| Average Rating | 4.07 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 13,829 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Executioner's Song?
The Executioner's Song is categorized as Non-Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Biography & Memoir, Classics. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is The Executioner's Song worth reading?
Based on 13.8K reader ratings, The Executioner's Song has an average score of 4.07 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is The Executioner's Song?
The Executioner's Song has 1,056 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote The Executioner's Song?
The Executioner's Song was written by Norman Mailer. It was first published in 1979.
What is the ISBN for The Executioner's Song?
The ISBN-13 for The Executioner's Song is 9780375700810.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
