“When you have been writing novels as long as I have, you never quarrel with your instinct.”

These words come from Norman Mailer, the 84-year-old author of many novels, nonfiction books, essays and articles. Speaking to a generally hero-worshipping crowd on the last stop of a book tour, this long-famous author proved able to spark laughter and applause with the skills of an entertainer.

He had entered the sanctuary of the church, navigating carefully on two canes. Arrived in a tall armchair, he beamed at the audience with a warm smile of relief. Short and less stocky than formerly, dressed in an experienced dark blue jacket and baggy pants of nearly the same color, Mailer showed himself a lively, sometimes blunt, and witty personality.

This is the man who electrified the literary world in 1948 with The Naked and the Dead, a novel that grew out of his World Ward II experience. A lot has happened to him since: 34 other books; six marriages; nine children; and much controversy.

As his introducer, Amanda Darling of Harvard Book Store, observed, Mailer has “staying power.” Despite his physical disabilities─ labored walking, increasing deafness, hoarse throat─this literary lion retains the aggressiveness that has always marked his personality.

His newest novel, The Castle in The Forest, has been published in 19 countries, he proudly announced, but only recently in Germany. In it, Mailer focuses on Adolf Hitler’s early life, up to teenage years. He would like to continue this theme in later volumes but “at age 84, you don’t go around making predictions of what you’re going to do next.”

During his discussion of one of Hitler’s alleged physical defects, he sang a bawdy song dating from World War II. Acceptable newspaper practice bars me from reproducing its lyrics here but I can vouch for the singer’s boast: “I have never been known to hit a note on pitch.” It should have been sung to the tune of The Colonel Bogey March.

The most important character in the book, in the author’s view, is a subordinate devil, Satan’s assistant, who serves as narrator. Adopting a classical view of evil, Mailer believes there to be “a satanic effect in human affairs.” Hitler’s impact on the world cannot be explained by mere psychology.

“Hitler goes beyond our comprehension of human nature,” the writer claims. Contrasting the Führer with his Soviet counterpart, he says; “Stalin killed only those people who were in his way; Hitler killed by metaphor.”

By the latter phrase, Mailer means that Hitler gained no practical advantage by wiping out Jews. Instead, this policy actually hurt the war effort. But, as psychiatrist and scholar Robert Jay Lifton has explained to me: “They had to be killed for abstract reasons, for Hitler’s psyche, translating it into an ideology.”

Though Mailer did not wish to linger on a discussion of incest, it plays an important part in the book. Alois Hitler, the father of Adolf, was involved in more than one incestuous relationship, the novelist says, including that with Adolf’s mother Klara Poelzl.

Mailer claims that incest sometimes gives rise to a few individuals who may not be mentally weak, but instead brilliant and unusually creative.

In the course of his talk and during the question period, Mailer commented on all sorts of important subjects, among them aging, politics, belief, literature, and women.

On aging, he says “When you get into your 80s, each year counts as two or three.” Later, when faltering in answer to a question, he excused himself with “Sorry, 84, losing it already.” Given his overall performance, however, this admission seemed merely rhetorical.

As to politics, he displays strong feelings. “Iraq is not exactly the seedbed for democracy,” he says in condemning the invasion. In explaining what he takes to be Karl Rove’s advice to George W. Bush, he says: “One half of America is very stupid and we have got to appeal to that half.” He quickly adds: “It’s very important for stupid people to be patriotic.”

After being an atheist for much of his life, Mailer now believes in God. However he has faith in what he calls an “existential God.” His friend Dr. Lifton, understands this term as meaning “a God who himself or herself is struggling and doesn’t have a clear path.”

In response to a woman who raised the question of his alleged misogyny, Mailer pleads innocence. “I’m one of the small injustices of the feminist movement,” he claims in defense. However, he also would like to have been “more macho than I was.”

As to literature, “the ideal novel will give you a structure for thinking in the future.”

Walking away from a stimulating evening, I felt the force of character in this man who is obviously in physical decline but who can summon up reserves of inner strength. Mailer still inspires controversy─and sometimes indignation─ but he continues to be creative and rollicking.

Richard Griffin