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Gore Vidal

ゴア・ヴィダル

Gore Vidal

Aliases: Eugene Louis Vidal / Eugene Luther Vidal Jr. / Eugene Luther Gore Vidal
Pen Names: Edgar Box（Pseudonym used for mystery novels）, Cameron Kay（Pseudonym used for a pulp novel; he refused reprints under his real name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1925-10-03 （West Point, New York, U.S.）
Died
2012-07-31 （Los Angeles (Hollywood Hills), California, U.S.） age 86
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Episcopal Church (baptized; later publicly critical of organized religion) Baptized in 1939 （Baptismal Name: Eugene Luther Gore Vidal）
Residence History
Washington, D.C. → Italy (Amalfi Coast, La Rondinaia) → Los Angeles, California (Outpost Estates)

Career

Occupations
writer, novelist, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, actor
Active Years
1946-2012
Memberships
American Humanist Association (honorary president)
Influenced By
Henry Adams, Thomas Pryor Gore (familial political legacy)
Influenced
Burr Steers (nephew, filmmaker/writer), Later political essayists and public intellectuals

Education

Sidwell Friends School
Period: 少年期
Country: United States
Preparatory education; attended during youth
St. Albans School
Period: 中等教育
Country: United States
Attended preparatory school; baptized while a student here (confirmation preparations)
Phillips Exeter Academy
Period: 中等教育
Country: United States
Did not attend university; enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17

Awards

National Book Award for Nonfiction
1993
Work: United States: Essays 1952–92
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞
Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
2009
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Williwaw

1946 military novel

A men-at-war story derived from his Alaskan harbor detachment duty during World War II.

warcomradeshipsurvival

The City and the Pillar

1948 novel (social realism, LGBT themes)

A dispassionate presentation of a male homosexual relationship; caused moralistic furor at time of publication.

sexualitysocial taboospersonal identity

Julian

1964 historical novel

Recreates the world of Julian the Apostate, exploring imperial politics and the clash with Christianity.

ancient historyreligion and politicspower

Myra Breckinridge

1968 satirical novel

A satire of the American movie industry and mutable gender roles; adapted into a 1970 film.

genderthe film industrysexual politics
Adaptations
  • [film] Myra Breckinridge (film) / Michael Sarne (1970)

Burr

1973 historical novel (Narratives of Empire series)

Set in early American history; explores how public and private facets of personality affect national politics.

American historypolitical corruptioncharacter psychology

Lincoln

1984 historical novel (Narratives of Empire series)

A historical novel about Abraham Lincoln within the Narratives of Empire series; provides insights into American political history.

Civil Warpolitical leadershiphistorical reinterpretation

Creation

1981 historical novel

Explores the history of the ancient world (Axial Age), focusing on ideas and politics across civilizations.

ancient civilizationsintellectual historycultural exchange

Bibliography

  • Williwaw, 1946
  • The City and the Pillar, 1948
  • Julian, 1964
  • Washington, D.C., 1967
  • Myra Breckinridge, 1968
  • Burr, 1973
  • 1876, 1976
  • Creation, 1981
  • Lincoln, 1984
  • Empire, 1987
  • Hollywood, 1990
  • The Golden Age, 2000
  • United States: Essays 1952–92, 1993
  • Palimpsest: A Memoir, 1995

Adaptations

  • The Best Man (film, 1964)
  • Myra Breckinridge (film, 1970)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
epigrammatic witcaustic, satirical voicenarration that evokes time and place
Recurring Motifs
corruption in American politics and powersocial construction of sex and genderreinterpretation of history

Health

  • Hypothermia (suffered during military service)
    1943–1946（第二次世界大戦期）
    Contributed to subsequent health issues, including effects on mobility and later arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
    1940年代以降（詳細不明）
    Long-term health impact that constrained some activities
  • Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome
    2010年頃から
    Affected cognition and memory, contributing to decline in later years
  • Pneumonia (cause of death)
    2012年7月
    Died of pneumonia on July 31, 2012

Legacy

Gore Vidal was a public intellectual known for his wit and acerbic critiques of American politics and culture. He made significant contributions as both a historical novelist and essayist; critics are divided, but his stylistic impact and influence are widely acknowledged.

Academic Societies

  • American Humanist Association (honorary president)

Archives

  • Houghton Library, Harvard University (papers and archives)
  • Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (early film-related papers)

In Popular Culture

  • Cameo voice as himself in The Simpsons (animated appearance)
  • Appeared as animated self in Family Guy
  • Reassessed in culture via works like the documentary Best of Enemies about the Buckley–Vidal debates
  • Planned Netflix biopic Gore was cancelled and remains unreleased due to allegations against the lead actor

Quotes

  • There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party... and it has two right wings.
    Source: Essay "The State of the Union" (1975) (1975)

Trivia

  • Used pen names Edgar Box and Cameron Kay
  • Long-term partner was Howard Austen; they were together for 53 years
  • Reportedly bequeathed an estate of about $37 million to Harvard University
  • Engaged in a famously vitriolic televised debate with William F. Buckley, Jr. in 1968