A dramatic reading of the work of Jazz Age writers Ernest Hemingway (read byNorman Mailer), F. Scott Fitzgerald (by George Plimpton) and his wife ZeldaFitzgerald (by Norman’s wife Norris Church Mailer) preceded a champagnedessert at the Folger Shakespeare Library in January. Written by George Plimptonand Terry Quinn, the script of the well-received reading came mostly from thethree writers’ letters and notebook entries as well as a couple of their novels. In thequestion and answer period following the reading, Norman Mailer in his ever-provocativemanner made statements that enraged some audience members whileothers clapped in agreement. When asked to define America in one sentence,Mr. Mailer replied “You can’t describe a phenomenon in one sentence,” and thenwent on to say, “the majority of Americans hate any question that takeslonger than 10 seconds to respond to, and now we have the perfect president.”Mailer also said that “fascism thrives on the debasement of language” and “that fora democracy to survive, language must flourish. Television has eaten theAmerican mythos.”