Classics · TenseAn American reconnaissance platoon fights on a fictional South Pacific island during World War II
The Naked and the Dead
A platoon fights its way across a Pacific island in World War II
A reconnaissance platoon fights on the fictional South Pacific island of Anopopei as American forces push to drive out the Japanese. The novel follows the men through combat, exhaustion and tension with their superiors. Among them are Staff Sergeant Sam Croft, Lieutenant Robert Hearn and General Edward Cummings. Rinehart published it in 1948; Mailer was 25 and based it partly on his service as a cook with the 112th Cavalry Regiment.
More about this book
Who
Sam Croft, Robert Hearn, General Cummings, Red Valsen and Roy Gallagher.
World
Anopopei, a fictional island in the South Pacific, in World War II.
What makes it different
Because of the publisher's objections to profanity, Mailer used the euphemism "fug." It sold 200,000 copies in its first three months.
Feel
Gritty and long, at 721 pages.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- The Naked and the DeadWikipedia