The Last Party
The Last Party: Scenes From My Life with Norman Mailer is a 1997 book by Adele Morales, second wife of Norman Mailer, whom she married in 1954. It was published in the US by Barricade Books.
 | |
| Author | Adele Morales |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Norman Mailer |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Publisher | Barricade Books |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Pages | 380 pp. |
| ISBN | 1-569-800-987 |
| OCLC | 35758291 |
The book is a memoir of Morales' and Mailer's marriage; among other things, it outlines an incident Saturday, November 19, 1960,[1] when Mailer stabbed her with a penknife at a party. He cut through her breast, only just missing her heart. Then he stabbed her in the back. As she lay there, hemorrhaging, one man reached down to help her. He snapped: "Get away from her. Let the bitch die."[2] He was involuntarily committed to Bellevue Hospital for 17 days; his wife would not press charges, and he later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault, and was given a suspended sentence.[3][4] Morales was admitted to University Hospital in Manhattan for treatment of her injuries. In the short term, Morales made a partial physical recovery. She divorced Mailer in 1962 as a result of the incident. The stabbing incident has been a focal point for feminist critics of Mailer, who point to themes of sexual violence in his work.[5]
References
- "Norman Mailer Arrested in Stabbing of Wife at a Party", The New York Times, November 22, 1960. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
- "Johann Hari: Why do we ignore the abuse of women?", The Independent, November 15, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
- "Of Time and the Rebel." Time. December 5, 1960. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
- "Crime and Punishment; Norman Mailer Stabs His Wife At A Party In Their New York Apartment." Entertainment Weekly, November 15, 1991. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
- Millet, Kate. Sexual Politics Virago, 1991. pp. 314–5.
