Writer
Gore Vidal
Notes from Evan Smith
"If you happened to be at the Texas Book Festival's kickoff gala last fall, you may have heard this week's guest stun Austin's usually unflappable literary crowd into an akward silence, with his talk of stolen presidential elections and similar conspiracies from on high. Or, if you managed to score a seat at the Paramount theater two days later and witnessed our spirited three-way conversation about politics with New York Times columnnist Maureen Dowd, you very possibly came away feeling a mix of awe and irritation, so sharp are his mind -- and tongue. All of which is par for the course for Gore Vidal, the novelist, essayist, playwright, curmudegeon, esthete, elitist, political animal, and fiercely opinionated observer of the human condition. Born 81 years ago in West Point, New York, a descendant of three United States Senators, Vidal attended the prestigious St. Albans School and Phillips Exeter Academy, then enlisted in the United States Army. He published his first novel, Williwaw, some sixty-one years ago; another twenty-five works of fiction have followed, along with eight plays and nearly two dozen works of non fiction. Twice he has sought political office, losing a bid for Congress in New York in 1960 and a U.S. Senate primary in Calfornia in 1982. In both of those races he called himself a Democrat, but in truth his politics aren't easily pigeonholed, seeing as he does dark forces and evil intentions around every corner and behind every rock. On the subject of 9/11, for instance, he has said that he believes the Bush administration knew about the attacks in advance and let them happen, to justify war plans previously hatched. He is, in short, a somewhat difficult if fascinating personality, and, as you're about to see, not the easiest interview in the world."
- Evan Smith, Texas Monthly Talks, Broadcast 1.11.07
