Mao II (novel)
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| Mao II (novel) | |
|---|---|
| Author | Don DeLillo |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Postmodern, Novel |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Publication date | 1991 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 257 |
| Awards | PEN/Faulkner Award |
Mao II (novel) is a novel written by Don DeLillo, published in 1991 by Viking Press. The book explores the relationship between literature and terrorism, and features a reclusive author who becomes embroiled in a political movement. The novel has been praised for its insightful commentary on the media and its impact on society, drawing comparisons to the works of Thomas Pynchon and Margaret Atwood. DeLillo's unique writing style, which blends elements of postmodernism and social commentary, has been influenced by authors such as James Joyce and William Faulkner.
Mao II (novel)
The novel is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time of great social and political change, marked by events such as the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Gulf War. The story follows a reclusive author named Bill Gray, who has not published a book in years and is struggling with writer's block. Gray's life is marked by his interactions with his editor, Charlie Everson, and his assistant, Scott Martineau, who is a graduate student at Columbia University. The novel also explores the world of terrorism, particularly the Lebanon hostage crisis, and features a character named George Haddad, a Palestinian militant who is involved in the Abu Nidal Organization. The character of Haddad is reminiscent of figures such as Yasser Arafat and Hamas leader Khalid Mashal.
Plot
The plot of the novel revolves around Bill Gray's decision to emerge from his reclusive life and become involved in the political movement to free the Lebanon hostages. Gray's actions are motivated by a desire to understand the media and its impact on society, and to explore the relationship between literature and terrorism. Along the way, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of political intrigue and terrorist activity, involving figures such as Muammar Gaddafi and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The novel also explores the world of publishing, particularly the New York City literary scene, and features characters such as Norman Mailer and Susan Sontag. The plot is also influenced by events such as the Iran hostage crisis and the Soviet-Afghan War.
Characters
The characters in the novel are complex and multifaceted, and include a range of figures from the worlds of literature, politics, and terrorism. Bill Gray is a reclusive author who is struggling to come to terms with the changing world around him, and is reminiscent of authors such as J.D. Salinger and Thomas Pynchon. Charlie Everson is Gray's editor, who is trying to persuade him to publish another book, and is influenced by the works of Max Perkins and Gordon Lish. Scott Martineau is Gray's assistant, who becomes embroiled in the political movement to free the Lebanon hostages, and is a graduate student at Columbia University, where he is studying under professors such as Edward Said and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. George Haddad is a Palestinian militant who is involved in the Abu Nidal Organization, and is influenced by figures such as Yasser Arafat and Hamas leader Khalid Mashal.
Themes
The novel explores a range of themes, including the relationship between literature and terrorism, the impact of the media on society, and the role of the author in the modern world. The novel also explores the idea of identity and how it is shaped by politics and culture, drawing on the works of authors such as Jean Baudrillard and Fredric Jameson. The novel is also concerned with the idea of reality and how it is constructed by the media, and features references to events such as the Gulf War and the Fall of the Berlin Wall. The themes of the novel are also influenced by the works of authors such as Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie.
Reception
The novel received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many reviewers praising its insightful commentary on the media and its impact on society. The novel was also praised for its complex and nuanced characters, and its exploration of the relationship between literature and terrorism. The novel won the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1992, and has since been recognized as one of the most important novels of the late 20th century, alongside works such as Underworld (novel) and White Noise (novel). The novel has been compared to the works of authors such as Thomas Pynchon and William Gaddis, and has been influential in the development of postmodern literature.
Background and context
The novel was written during a time of great social and political change, marked by events such as the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Gulf War. The novel is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time when the Cold War was coming to an end and the world order was being reshaped. The novel reflects this changing world, and explores the impact of globalization and the media on society. The novel is also influenced by the works of authors such as Jean Baudrillard and Fredric Jameson, who were writing about the impact of postmodernism on culture and society. The novel has been recognized as a key work of postmodern literature, alongside novels such as Gravity's Rainbow and Infinite Jest. The background and context of the novel are also influenced by events such as the Iran hostage crisis and the Soviet-Afghan War, and feature references to figures such as Ayatollah Khomeini and Mikhail Gorbachev.