Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal (1925-2012) was a prolific American novelist, essayist, playwright, and political commentator known for his satirical critiques of American society, politics, and empire. Born into a prominent political family as the grandson of U.S. Senator Thomas Gore, he published his first novel *Williwaw* at age 19 while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, and gained notoriety with *The City and the Pillar* (1948), which openly explored homosexuality. He ran unsuccessfully for political office twice, wrote historical 'Narratives of Empire' novels, and won the National Book Award for his essays.