Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal, who passed away in 2012, was an acclaimed and renowned American author, essayist, playwright, and political activist. His works span a broad range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and satire, and his writing has been praised for its wit, political insight, and boldness.

Vidal was born Eugene Louis Vidal in 1925 in West Point, New York, but changed his name to Gore (following a family tradition) when he was thirteen. Vidal was the son of a military man and he attended exclusive schools throughout his childhood. An apt student, Vidal was accepted into Phillips Exeter Academy, but left the school after being expelled following a dispute over carpentry wages.

Having dropped out of school, Vidal focused his attention on writing. At the age of nineteen, Vidal’s first novel, “Williwaw,” was published and lauded for its vivid descriptions and complex story line. His work soon gained him acclaim, and he gained recognition as one of the best novelists of his day.

In addition to writing novels, Vidal wrote for plays and movies, and eventually became an essayist. As an essayist, Vidal displayed his trenchant wit and his talent for creating aphorisms, such as “half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.” His essays enabled him to influence public opinion with his ideas, and Vidal went on to write essays on a range of topics, from sexuality to the Vietnam War.

Vidal was also politically active throughout his life and ran for the senate twice in his native California. He was a strong proponent of civil liberties and an advocate for social justice. His writings on these topics have generated plenty of debate, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential public intellectuals of the twentieth century.

Vidal had a long and distinguished literary career, having written over twenty-five books – most of which are still in print. His best-known work is his novel “Lincoln,” which charted the life of the American president, Abraham Lincoln. The book was praised for its keen insights and Vidal’s characteristic wit.

Vidal also wrote other novels throughout his career, including “Burr”, “Creation”, and “Julian”. In addition to his fiction, Vidal wrote several non-fiction books, including “Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace”, in which he criticized US foreign policy in the twentieth century. Vidal was also well known for his plays and film scripts, and the satirical play, “The Best Man”, was widely acclaimed.

Gore Vidal was a master storyteller, and his writing continues to influence and inspire generations of readers. His essays and fiction remain widely read and his legacy as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century will live on for many years to come.