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Arts & Culture: Reader Responses to the January Issue

Defending Norman Mailer

In response to Lance Morrow’s essay on Norman Mailer, J. Michael Lennon offers a spirited defense of the renowned author. Lennon, Mailer’s authorized biographer, asserts that Morrow’s portrayal of Mailer’s masterpiece, “The Executioner’s Song,” as merely an assemblage of interviews is disingenuous. He emphasizes Mailer’s extensive research, including hundreds of interviews, months of firsthand observation, and a thorough examination of court records and psychiatric reports. Lennon laments Morrow’s “trashy half-truths” and insists that Mailer’s legacy as the chronicler of the American Century remains secure.

Bragging Rights: Places to See Before You Die

Margaret Gampell shares her travel experiences, adding to the list of “28 Places to See Before You Die.” She suggests the Cappadocia region of Turkey and Vietnam’s Halong Bay as must-see destinations. While appreciating the article, Jimmy Thomas expresses disappointment that the list heavily favors man-made attractions (19) over natural wonders (9). He advocates for the inclusion of iconic natural landmarks such as Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, and the polar ice caps. Douglas W. Benoit raises concerns about the impact of environmental degradation on future travel plans, suggesting a more realistic title for such articles: “Before They Die.”

Metric Persuasion

John Farnsworth, a retired science teacher, expresses astonishment at the use of Fahrenheit in “The Coldest Place” article. He urges the adoption of the metric system, used by scientists and most of the world, for measuring temperatures. Farnsworth argues that the United States should “join the modern world” and abandon its reliance on “English” units.

Corrections

The editors acknowledge several errors in the January issue:

• The ships on page 44 were not part of the Great White Fleet of 1908 but rather cruisers and gunboats from an earlier period.
• The Turkish ruins on page 91 are not Ephesus but the Temple of Trajan at Pergamon.
• The temperature chart on page 21 incorrectly listed the boiling point of water as 212 degrees Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Additionally, the moon’s daytime surface temperature was given as 253 degrees below zero, which should have been 253 degrees above zero.
• “Among the Spires” failed to account for the lack of standardized time in England prior to the 19th century. As a result, it incorrectly stated that it was 9 p.m. in Oxford when it was 9:05 p.m. in Greenwich.

The editors apologize for these errors and assure readers of their commitment to accuracy in reporting.