Norman MAILER was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, film-maker, actor, and political activist. He is best known for his novel The Naked and the Dead, which was published in 1948. He also wrote several other novels, including The Executioner's Song, Ancient Evenings, and Harlot's Ghost. He won two Pulitzer Prizes for his non-fiction works, The Armies of the Night and The Executioner's Song. MAILER was a controversial figure who often wrote about controversial topics such as politics, religion, and sexuality. He was also an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.