Oswald's Tale

An American Mystery

By: Norman Mailer

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

In perhaps his most important literary feat, Norman Mailer fashions an unprecedented portrait of one of the great villains - and enigmas - in United States history. Here is Lee Harvey Oswald - his family background, troubled marriage, controversial journey to Russia, and return to an "America [waiting] for him like an angry relative whose eyes glare in the heat." Based on KGB and FBI transcripts, government reports, letters and diaries, and Mailer's own international research, this is an epic account of a man whose cunning, duplicity, and self-invention were both at home in and at odds with the country he forever altered.

©1995 Norman Mailer. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, Inc, all rights reserved.

Outstanding piece of work; no frills and no hyperbole

Only had sit through one book by Mailer and that was the massively overrated The Executioner’s Song. This is much more enjoyable and less privy to maudlin exploits. Mailer deals with facts and common sense here when dealing with one of the most wildly speculative topics of our time. A much better and put together look at controversial history though he does seem to want to come off as not sounding TOO radical in his overall perspective about Oswald. Like he does want to deviate from what Gerald Posner says about Oswald and his guilt but not enough to where he sounds like a quack.

It’s a long one. But a good one

For those of you that are curious about the various Kennedy assassination legends, this book provides a more in depth perspective and a deep look into the mind of Oswald.

Interesting but anticlimactic

Fascinating all the way through, but Mailer cops out at the end. He basically just says "Well, we're not going to get into ballistics, and the assassination seems Ike something Oswald would have done, so despite all of the contrary evidence I have just presented, let's just go with that." It's like a meticulous defense lawyer closing the case by just shrugging and saying "Your honor, he looks pretty guilty."

Thought provoking

For my money Norman Mailer was/is a national treasure who covered big events one thinks one knows all about. Nope. Reader can choose from the myriad motivations Mailer brilliantly flies.

A Very Good Meta Analysis of History

Mailer takes a thoughtful and reasoned approach in showing the background, motives, and integrity of the multiple witnesses to History in the Oswald assassination case. While much may be suggestive leading the reader to draw final conclusions, this is preferable to the many that sought a simplistic story for "the good of the country " while overtly seeking to cover up their own motives. Fascinating listen.