Psalm 44 (novel)

Psalm 44 is a 2006 novel by American author Norman Mailer. It is a fictionalized account of the 1967 March on the Pentagon, an anti-Vietnam War demonstration organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. The novel is characterized by its stream-of-consciousness narrative style, its exploration of the psychology of protest, and its depiction of the chaotic and often violent events surrounding the march.

Mailer, who participated in the actual event and was arrested, blends factual accounts with fictional characters and scenarios. The novel attempts to capture the atmosphere of the era, the motivations of the protestors, and the perspectives of those tasked with maintaining order. It also delves into Mailer's own evolving understanding of the political and cultural landscape of the United States during the Vietnam War.

While the novel shares the title with a biblical psalm, the connection is not explicitly developed within the narrative. Interpretations suggest the psalm's themes of national suffering and a plea for divine intervention resonate with the anti-war sentiments expressed in the book. The novel's title is a deliberate choice, intended to evoke a sense of historical and moral weight.