The Naked and the Dead is a 1948 novel, by Norman Mailer. It is based on his experiences during World War II

Set in the South Pacific and dealing primarily with a single platoon of riflemen the novel largely eschews depiction of combat apart from the opening sequence and instead focuses on the psychological portraits of the men in the squad. The tension of the novel derives mostly from the conflict between officers and men, including the lieutenant of the squad and the men under him as well as his superiors.

The novel was Mailer's first and was hugely successful, establishing his reputation as a novelist and bringing international recognition.