Norman Mailer has developed a unique style. In his non-fiction books, he mixes journalism, socology and personal observation in a third-person voice he calls "Mailer". In other words, Mailer includes himself in the story, making this reissue of The Fight - an account of the famous 1975 heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman - more about Mailer's real and imagined sufferings and digestive problems then it is about a boxing match. He pontificates freely, a tactic which, at its worst, flirts with the irrelevance and unintentional comedy of a Grampa Simpson tirade. At his best - and make no mistake, Mailer at full steam is a powerful writer - his many antidotes about Ali, Foreman, and the boxing industry are filled with an easy wit and fierce intelligence. His recollection of an early morning jog with Ali is alone worth the price of admission. Mailer certainly knows his subject, having boxed himself for a short time in the 1950s. If you're a boxing fan, you'll love it. If not, try his Advertisements for Myself instead.
By Todd Meigs
This review originally appeared in The Weekly Alibi.
© Todd Meigs
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