Gore Vidal Summary

Biography Essay"Gore Vidal wasn't what I set out to be ... ," Gore Vidal quipped in the 18 November 1974 Newsweek, "but I don't mind what I've become." What he has become is one of America's preemin... Read more

Eugene Luther Vidal was born in West Point, New York, where his father was an army instructor of aeronautics. He later took the name, Gore, from his mother, Nina Gore. As a prolific novelist, Vidal is... Read more

In the following review, See offers a positive assessment of Hollywood. Someone has said that when you put the events leading up to World War I into a computer they do not “compute” into... Read more

In the following review, Raban offers a positive assessment of Vidal's essay collection United States. Gore Vidal the novelist’s best character is Gore Vidal the essayist. Beside him eve... Read more

In the following review of United States, Kaveney praises Vidal's intelligence, wit, and adamance, though argues that his writings are at times overly condescending and irritating. Reading this... Read more

In the following review of United States, MacIntyre offers a largely positive assessment of Vidal's essays, though he argues that Vidal is a “snob” whose writings sometimes suffer... Read more

In the following review of Palimpsest, McCourt finds Vidal's memoir lacking, though commends his discussion of a boyhood friendship, which to McCourt's regret is not elaborated upon. Gor... Read more

In the following review, Brogan offers a positive assessment of Palimpsest. Autobiography is a form which invites experiment, and Gore Vidal has been bold enough to accept the invitation. In his intro... Read more

In the following review, LaHood offers a positive assessment of Palimpsest. Gore Vidal lived, off and on, in Rome for close to thirty years. The reason: “For one thing, I had never had a proper... Read more

In the following review, Christiansen offers a positive assessment of Virgin Islands, though he argues that some of Vidal's themes are repetitive and predictable. Some years ago, a ridiculously... Read more

In the following review of The Essential Gore Vidal, Brownrigg praises Vidal's diverse and provocative oeuvre, though finds shortcomings with the volume's critical introductions and sele... Read more

In the following review of A View from the Diner’s Club, Lefkowitz commends Vidal's “pronouncements on politics and life,” though finds his literary criticism less interest... Read more

Critical Essay by Maureen Bodo Gore Vidal is rapidly becoming his own worst enemy, no small feat for a veteran of so many literary feuds and friendships that have gone sour. For years, Vidal has been ... Read more

Critical Essay by Stefan Kanfer Few American writers can display the virtuosity of Gore Vidal: saline essays on popular arts and letters; our best political play, The Best Man; intimate analyses of po... Read more

Critical Essay by Walter Allen [Julian] brings together and dramatizes more effectively and with much greater authority than ever before preoccupations that have been present in [Gore Vidal's] ... Read more

Critical Essay by Susan Jacoby The idea behind ["Views from a Window"] is one of such obvious wit and utility that one can only marvel at the fact that no one seems to have tried it befo... Read more

Critical Essay by Paul Theroux ["Creation"] takes the form of the memoir-autobiography of one Cyrus Spitama, a half-Persian, half-Greek grandson of the prophet Zoroaster. Spitama regards... Read more