Gore vidal's lincoln book

Why was julian assange clutching a book by gore vidal as. He writes a comprehensive, historically accurate account of lincolns career but does so in a lively fictional style. Among vidals most famous works are his 1960s books julian and myra breckinridge. It opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when presidentelect abraham lincoln slips into washington, flanked by two bodyguards. Prodigious gore vidal the author, with this massive and carefully researched volume on lincolns presidency, of some 25 books 19 novels.

I started with gore vidals lincoln because it was one of the 300 books of aunt shazis that i absorbed into my library during fall 2008. Vidal s lincoln is considered one of the best novels in his american chronicles series of historic fiction which also includes burr, 1876, washington, d. With their broad canvas and large cast of fictional and historical characters, the novels in this series present a panorama of the american political and imperial experience as interpreted by one of its most worldly, knowing, and ironic observers. Summary gore vidals lincoln opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when presidentelect abraham lincoln slips into washington, flanked by two bodyguards. A prolific essayist and acclaimed author of historical novels such as 1984s lincoln, his talent for positioning history within a modern context is one thing about vidal that remains undisputed. Not that the better angels of the 16th president s nature are not frequently on view. Lincoln by gore vidal meet your next favorite book. Gore vidal, original name eugene luther gore vidal, jr. The mayor of castro street, randy shiltss acclaimed biography of. His more famous works are myra breckenridge 1970, burr 1973 and lincoln 1984. I started with gore vidal s lincoln because it was one of the 300 books of aunt shazi s that i absorbed into my library during fall 2008.

Gore vidals lincoln and other best audiobooks for summers end. Vidals lincoln is considered one of the best novels in his american chronicles series of historic fiction which also includes burr, 1876, washington, d. When i visited gore vidals home in the hollywood hills, five months after his death, one book, left unshelved, jolted me. Gore vidals lincoln and other best audiobooks for summers. Lincoln is the cornerstone of gore vidals fictional american chronicle, which includes burr. Why was julian assange clutching a book by gore vidal as he.

Gore vidal books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes. As was true of the lemann book cited above, however, im virtually certain that i read vidals lincoln when it first appeared. A novel the american chronicle series, vidal, gore, good book. Jul 31, 2012 among vidal s most famous works are his 1960s books julian and myra breckinridge. As there s a deterioration disclaimer before the main menu, this antique effect is probably unintentional. Gore vidal books list of books by author gore vidal. Lincoln, also known as gore vidals lincoln, is a 1988 american television miniseries starring sam waterston as abraham lincoln, mary tyler.

In lincoln, vidal has succeeded magnificently in imagining much of what walt whitman leaves out of his book, leaves of grass, in its memories of president lincoln section. Vidals second novel the city and the pillar put him on the map. Lincoln is the cornerstone of gore vidals fictional american chronicle, which includes burr, 1876, washington, d. The lincoln invented by vidal is a man of shakespearean dimensions, full of doubts and mixed motives, a closet dictator who started. With sam waterston, mary tyler moore, richard mulligan, deborah adair. As theres a deterioration disclaimer before the main menu, this antique effect is probably unintentional. Lincoln is an historical novel by gore vidal, covering the time of abraham lincolns troubled presidency, 18611864. Apr 11, 2019 the book immediately drew attention given assanges longrunning battles with those who wield power and seek to protect powerful interests, and vidals musings on the same topics. Small, very thick clothbound volume in dustwrapper. It is one of the best historical novels i have read. A novel is a historical novel, part of the narratives of empire series by gore vidal. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Small remainder mark on top edge of text, ow boards and text are clean, tight, square.

The future president is in disguise, for there is talk of a plot to murder him. A novel is a historical novel, part of the narratives of empire series by gore vidal set during the american civil war, the novel describes the presidency of abraham lincoln through the eyes of several historical figures, including presidential secretary john hay, first lady mary todd lincoln, secretary of state william h. Though lincoln is the focus, the book is never narrated from his point of view with the exception of several paragraphs describing a dream lincoln. To the editors gore vidal recently used the occasion of his renewed exchange with lincoln scholars and biographers letters, nyr, april 28 to rebut an unnamed caption writers new york times article on the nbctv miniseries based on his novel. Gore vidal achieves the holy grail of historical fiction in lincoln. Gore vidal was one of three novelists the other two being e.

As if to balance the flighty vileness of the lamentable duluth 1983, vidal follows it up with his most sober, unfanciful historical novel yet. After arriving in washington in 1861 after his election, abraham lincoln struggles with personal and political problems during his presidency. Gore vidal has received the national book award, written numerous novels, short stories, plays and essays. In gore vidals lincoln we meet lincoln the man and lincoln the political animal, the president who entered a besieged capital where most of the population supported the south and where even those favoring the union had serious doubts that the man from illinois could save it. Gore vidal s narratives of empire series spans the history of the united s. At the books conclusion, charles schuyler, vidals fictional interloper, asks lincolns secretary john hay where he would place lincoln amongst all the presidents past. Brilliantly conceived, masterfully executed, gore vidals lincoln allows the man to breathe again. Audio is clear and video has a look similar to o brother, where art thou. Lincoln is in vidal s version at once more complex, mysterious and enigmatic, more implacably courageous and, finally, more tragic than the conventional images, the marble man of the memorial. I came to vidal through his essays, which i read nonstop for an entire week before i started to feel like i was reading the same thing again and again.

Lincoln is the cornerstone of gore vidal s fictional american chronicle, which includes burr, 1876, washington, d. Lincoln by gore vidal, first edition, signed abebooks. He is to be found, for those able to read old prose, in his own writings. Gore vidals narratives of empire series spans the history of the united states from the revolution to the postworld war ii years. That is no doubt due to the fact that in the 70s and 80s, when i completed much of my schooling, public school curricula still bent in the direction of a legendary and. Gore vidal s narratives of empire series spans the history of the united states from the revolution to the postworld war ii years. Absolutely yes, in the topsyturvy world of gore vidal s richly entertaining new novel, lincoln. A new edition of gores treatment of president lincolns life with a new introduction by the author. The principals are all history book figures and their families. A new edition of gore s treatment of president lincoln s life with a new introduction by the author.

Lincoln is in vidals version at once more complex, mysterious and enigmatic, more implacably courageous and, finally, more tragic than the conventional images, the marble man of the memorial. While i would not go that far, as i believe there is a place for a historical novel, it is clear that vidal went too far as he pretends his book to be. Gore vidal 19252012 was an american writer and public intellectual. According to lincoln s law partner william herndon. Vidals mother, nina gore, was a socialite who made her broadway theatre debut as an extra actress in sign of the leopard, in 1928. Essays 19521992, for which he won the national book award. He began his literary career in 1946 with the publication of his novel williwaw but did not achieve notoriety until he published his third book the city and the pillar which cause a minor scandal for its depiction of homosexuality. Its just about everything a novel should bepleasure, information, moral insight. Vidal s mother, nina gore, was a socialite who made her broadway theatre debut as an extra actress in sign of the leopard, in 1928. Gore vidals narratives of empire series spans the history of the united s. The principals are all historybook figures and their families. Seward, secretary of the treasury salmon chase, his daughter. Absolutely yes, in the topsyturvy world of gore vidals richly entertaining new novel, lincoln. Gore vidal has 158 books on goodreads with 184211 ratings.

The lincoln invented by vidal is a man of shakespearean dimensions, full of doubts and mixed motives, a closet dictator who started the civil war as much out of a desire to trump the glory of the founders as out of any. Aug 12, 2011 gore vidal achieves the holy grail of historical fiction in lincoln. Mar 11, 2011 gore vidal, lincoln 1984 david, my younger son, sent this novel to me. Julian assange holding gore vidal book during london arrest. A novel the american chronicle series 9780375708763. It follows the course of political and military battles from his arrival in washington, d. Six of the seven books making up gore vidals brilliant cycle of novels, narratives of empire, have not. Gore vidals lincoln reading group book club discussion. Gore vidals first fictional undertaking was a military novel titled williwaw. Gore vidal died in 2012 at age 86 and was known for being outspoken on politics and sex. The book s vitality depends entirely on its central character. A few fictional people from other vidal novels burr, 1876 appear herebut only very briefly. Unafraid to point fingers and assassinate characters, gore vidal has always been provocative, if not universally liked.

Gore vidal s lincoln is the full 3plus hour madefortv minseries. Aug 29, 2019 gore vidals lincoln and other best audiobooks for summers end. Gore vidals lincoln an exchange from the april 28, 1988 issue. The life and literature of gore vidal the new yorker. Six of the seven books making up gore vidals brilliant cycle of novels, narratives of empire, have not been. Gore vidals lincoln a brilliant marriage of fact and imagination. In gore vidal s lincoln we meet lincoln the man and lincoln the political animal, the president who entered a besieged capital where most of the population supported the south and where even those favoring the union had serious doubts that the man from illinois could save it. The book not only featured a homosexual lead but it delved into the nature of homosexual relationships. Summary gore vidal s lincoln opens early on a frozen winter morning in 1861, when presidentelect abraham lincoln slips into washington, flanked by two bodyguards. The book immediately drew attention given assanges longrunning battles with those who wield power and seek to protect powerful interests, and vidals musings on the same topics. Gore vidals lincoln is the full 3plus hour madefortv minseries. Born into a political dynasty, he twice sought elected office. Im on a lincoln kick and im watching where it leads me. Not that the better angels of the 16th presidents nature are not frequently on view.