Rating: 
Summary: Vidal - the uncompromising essayist?
Review: Despite (repeatedly) claiming a place as one of America's greatest novelists, perhaps it will be this collection of essays which survives Vidal the longest. Arranged in two roughly equal collections dealing with literary and with political matters, the pieces span forty years and a rapidly-changing American society. Some of the most interesting pieces are commentaries on the development of the USA from a 'backward, agrarian republic' to the modern-day imperial juggernaut, summed up in the phrase 'National Security State' in which Vidal alleges there remains no true democracy, merely a meaningless choice between politicians who act like television personalities and seek only to maintain the status quo in favour of the rich elite. Politically leftist, Vidal takes an uncompromising stance against artistic, sexual and political hypocrisy, satirising politicians, journalists, fellow authors and historical figures with glee. The literary pieces are remarkable not only for the broad span of writers with which Vidal is familiar, but also for his ability to sketch in a few pages the whole development of a writer's work. The overall sense left by these essays, however, is that of something unfulfilled - whether Vidal's failed political ambitions, the sense one gets that he did not receive the recognition he wanted for his writings, and the broader sense of regret at the loss of American 'innocence' under Truman. Be that as it may, they offer one of the most radical, uncompromising, sharp and indeed witty voices available in America today, and I would highly recommend them
Rating: 
Summary: American Voltaire
Review: Did we need a Gore Vidal reader? The author is something of a long-winded blowhard, commenting at length (and I mean LENGTH) on every topic imaginable. In that respect he is America's Voltaire, creating reams of comment and interpretation on politics, the arts, and religion and morals. It's hard to say where Vidal fits in the framework of 20th century criticism, as he is not a conventional leftist. Because of his iconoclasm, this collection can only inform the reader about Gore Vidal, not his times nor any intellectual or political movement. All that said, Vidal is a great essayist and a droll wit. This book is much too much for the casual reader -- stick to one of his many shorter collections instead -- but for a Vidal fan (or, say, a reader of "The Nation") this book is worth the time commitment.
Rating:
Summary: Gore Vidal, United States
Review: First, for those readers solely interested in the quality of this essay collection, my advice is simple. If you enjoy the essay form, buy this collection! There is no better essayist alive. In the USA, Vidal stands beside Emerson, White and Trilling in exemplifying the power of the essay; and like them, his greatest quality is the intense, lasting relevancy of his argument, even when he deals with people or events long past. His vilification of Truman, for example, concentrates on the latter's founding the American security state, certainly a germane issue.
As for all this talk of Vidal's political affiliation, anyone who claims he is a conservative or a liberal in any normal sense of these words is simply wrong, and is unfortunately missing the purpose of Vidal's writing. Vidal firmly believes in the people and the ideals by which our nation was founded; but he is alone, as far as I know, in keeping himself free of worship. Jefferson, Adams, etc. were not perfect; and neither is democracy or republicanism. In our intensely polarized time, in which unthinking loyalty is a virtue, Vidal is exactly that type which he has often cheered throughout history, the brave heretic. Gore Vidal is our Orwell; his opinions may only occasionally be right, but anyone who ignores him is jeopardizing our relationship with the truth.
In addition to this collection, I also highly recommend *the last empire*, Vidal's collection of essays from 1992 to 2000. It is much shorted, and is actually a better introduction to the author.
Rating:
Summary: Gleefully malicious
Review: Gore Vidal possesses an immense erudition and a willingness to inflict it on anyone and everyone who doesn't measure up to his standards, with tremendously entertaining results. He is a pedant and a nitpicker who will not let be even the smallest things, and I would hate to be subjected to his merciless eye, but it's great to read about the people who have been.I bought the book for its first section, which consists of essays on literary matters (quite a few of them concerning people of whom I had never heard before -- some of whom I have now started reading just because of the essays), figuring that I could at worst skip the politics (the idea of which bored me) and still have quite a collection of essays in my hands. As it turned out, though, once I had made my way through that section I was so hooked on Vidal's drily contemptuous writing that I couldn't help continuing. I'm glad I read on, because his views (many of them bolstered by first-hand experience with the issues about which he's writing) and ability clearly and convincingly to expound them are amazing. He has really changed my ideas about a few issues. (There are also a few issues on which I think he can say nothing but educated nonsense, but I didn't read the book to have my own opinions parroted back at me.) The essays are fascinating, educating and entertaining, and the collection is superb -- trumping (in quantity and quality) just about any other book of his essays available. The ``sequel'' to this collection, Last Empire, can be a bit repetitive and shrilly alarmist, but this one is fresh and insightful throughout (perhaps because he's talking about events from which I feel sufficiently detached to be open-minded?). The only slight complaint I have is that Vidal, in the middle of his complaints about the style and spelling problems of others, has some stingers of his own. (One of the most glaring is that he likes to set off parenthetical notes for example this one, with only a final comma.) I'd try to ignore this in an ordinary writer (should I say mere mortal?), but with someone who so clearly values pedantry and precision it is extremely jarring.
Rating:
Summary: Gleefully malicious
Review: Gore Vidal possesses an immense erudition and a willingness to inflict it on anyone and everyone who doesn't measure up to his standards, with tremendously entertaining results. He is a pedant and a nitpicker who will not let be even the smallest things, and I would hate to be subjected to his merciless eye, but it's great to read about the people who have been. I bought the book for its first section, which consists of essays on literary matters (quite a few of them concerning people of whom I had never heard before -- some of whom I have now started reading just because of the essays), figuring that I could at worst skip the politics (the idea of which bored me) and still have quite a collection of essays in my hands. As it turned out, though, once I had made my way through that section I was so hooked on Vidal's drily contemptuous writing that I couldn't help continuing. I'm glad I read on, because his views (many of them bolstered by first-hand experience with the issues about which he's writing) and ability clearly and convincingly to expound them are amazing. He has really changed my ideas about a few issues. (There are also a few issues on which I think he can say nothing but educated nonsense, but I didn't read the book to have my own opinions parroted back at me.) The essays are fascinating, educating and entertaining, and the collection is superb -- trumping (in quantity and quality) just about any other book of his essays available. The ``sequel'' to this collection, Last Empire, can be a bit repetitive and shrilly alarmist, but this one is fresh and insightful throughout (perhaps because he's talking about events from which I feel sufficiently detached to be open-minded?). The only slight complaint I have is that Vidal, in the middle of his complaints about the style and spelling problems of others, has some stingers of his own. (One of the most glaring is that he likes to set off parenthetical notes for example this one, with only a final comma.) I'd try to ignore this in an ordinary writer (should I say mere mortal?), but with someone who so clearly values pedantry and precision it is extremely jarring.
Rating:
Summary: Vidal: The Secret Conservative
Review: I have admired Gore Vidal's writing since I was a teenager and I encountered his historical novels and essays (I don't care for his "experimental" fiction, like "Myra Breckenridge.") Depsite his loud protestations to the contrary, I've always thought he was a secret consevative, because: --his toughmindedness and classical prose. He has always relentlessly and wittily mocked post-modernism in fiction, defending the more traditional forms of the novel (how he came to write dreck like "Duluth", I cannot say.) He has no use for the Oprah-inspired therapeutic culture: he insists that character is destiny. --his paintaking care with history. Many of the historical essays in this book are marvels of learning. Most liberals think of history as somehing to forget. --he is one of the funniest writers alive. Many liberals distrust humor, rightly fearing its power to expose fraud and establish truth. Vidal is absolutely fearless in what he writes and satire is his best friend. Will Vidal, on his deathbed, secretly call for a priest and be received into Christianity at last? It wouldn't surprise me a bit.
Rating:
Summary: Mencken and Paine would applaud
Review: This is a great compilation of 40 years of insight into what really drives the republic: from the cult for the Kennedys, the Ron and Nancy show in pictures, the militancy of the Sky God people and the hypocritical sexual mores Vidal leaves no sacred cow unslaughtered and goes to the marrow of our most cherished myths. Unabashedly polemic and magisterial in his distain he proves that thinking critical and pushing the state sponsored purveyors of preciousness out of their well cottoned and financed closets is the best revenge. May he continue on to take the pulse of lazy thinkers everywhere and pronounce them comatose.
Rating:
Summary: Successful "essays"
Review: This is a remarkable collection of essays. They cover literature, politics and history and show Vidal at his best. My favorites include his examination of the Kennedy Family (entitled The Holy Family) which though dated still shows the importance of showmanship be it the construction of a religion or a political dynasty. Vidal also looks at General Grant and surveys the American scene. Another gem is his examination of the books on the New York Times Best Seller list in the early seventies and what they tell us about American tastes and the declining craft of the writen word (Vidal believes it to be largely cinematic). There really are too many topics to cover properly in only 1,000. All of the essays are stimulating and thought provoking whether one agrees with the ideas expressed or not. I urge anyone who enjoys reading well-written prose to get this fascinating volume and discover the joys within its covers.
Rating:
Summary: Great collection of very entertaining, well written essays
Review: This is some of the sharpest commentary on politics and literature that is available in print today. That said, I must strongly disagree with another reviewer's characterization of Gore as a secret conservative. I'll deal with his points 1 at a time: -Distain for postmodernism: OK, Noam Chomsky also hates postmodernism. Is he a conservative too? -Historical care because "Most liberals think of history as somehing to forget.": Wow. Most idealogues think history is something to forget, liberal or conservative. Even if true, this would show that Gore is not most liberals. -"Many liberals distrust humor": Once again, Wow. Gary Treudeau? Tom Tomorrow? (very funny liberal cartoonists) One's political views have absolutely nothing whatever to do with enjoyment of humor. A lot of people generally distrust humor. I call them humorless, I don't know what the other reviewer would call them. -"Will Vidal ... be received into Christianity at last? It wouldn't surprise me a bit.": Did you read this book? He repeatedly lambasts Christianity and the Bible itself. He's not Jerry Falwell's best friend by any means... However, if we take the definition of a liberal as a humorless, postmodernism-loving, history-hating person who can't write well, and a conservative as anything else, then Gore Vidal is definitely a conservative. Tried and true. Historically, hasn't conservativism had something to do with politcal views? Oh, I forget. All that history stuff is too complicated for my delicate liberal brain.
Rating:
Summary: Great collection of very entertaining, well written essays
Review: This is some of the sharpest commentary on politics and literature that is available in print today. That said, I must strongly disagree with another reviewer's characterization of Gore as a secret conservative. I'll deal with his points 1 at a time: -Distain for postmodernism: OK, Noam Chomsky also hates postmodernism. Is he a conservative too? -Historical care because "Most liberals think of history as somehing to forget.": Wow. Most idealogues think history is something to forget, liberal or conservative. Even if true, this would show that Gore is not most liberals. -"Many liberals distrust humor": Once again, Wow. Gary Treudeau? Tom Tomorrow? (very funny liberal cartoonists) One's political views have absolutely nothing whatever to do with enjoyment of humor. A lot of people generally distrust humor. I call them humorless, I don't know what the other reviewer would call them. -"Will Vidal ... be received into Christianity at last? It wouldn't surprise me a bit.": Did you read this book? He repeatedly lambasts Christianity and the Bible itself. He's not Jerry Falwell's best friend by any means... However, if we take the definition of a liberal as a humorless, postmodernism-loving, history-hating person who can't write well, and a conservative as anything else, then Gore Vidal is definitely a conservative. Tried and true. Historically, hasn't conservativism had something to do with politcal views? Oh, I forget. All that history stuff is too complicated for my delicate liberal brain.
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