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Palimpsest: A Memoir
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,031 ratings, 162 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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See moreThis is a memoir of the first 40 years of Gore Vidal's life, ranging back and forth across a rich history. He describes his difficult family, talented friends and interesting enemies with a cast that includes Tennessee Williams, the Kennedys, Jack Kerouac and Norman Mailer.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
This is a memoir of the first 40 years of Gore Vidal's life, ranging back and forth across a rich history. He spent his childhood in Washington DC, in the household of his grandfather, the blind senator from Oklahoma, T.P. Gore, and in the various domestic situations of his complicated and exasperating mother, Nina.
Then come schooldays at St Albans and Exeter; the army; life as a literary wunderkind in New York, London, Rome and Paris in the '40s and '50s; sex in an age of promiscuity; and a campaign for Congress in 1960.
His cast includes Tennessee Williams, the Kennedys, Eleanor Roosevelt, Truman Capote, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Christopher Isherwood, Jack Kerouac, Jane and Paul Bowles, Santayana, Anais Nin, Norman Mailer, Leonard Bernstein and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, among others.
Palimpsest: A Memoir offers a fascinating glimpse into the early years of an icon, surrounded by a vibrant literary and political landscape.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Palimpsest: A Memoir by Gore Vidal has been praised for its engrossing and candid narrative, with a blend of wit and originality that captivates readers. Critics appreciate the book as a critical self-biography, weaving in entertaining political gossip and personal anecdotes with a stylish and sometimes humorous tone. The memoir is likened to a literary masterpiece, rich with personal insights and historical perspectives, making it a standout biography of the year.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349108001
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 August 1996
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Abacus
Contributors:
- Introduction by Jay Parini
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 30.0mm
Width: 127.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 330g
Pages: 448
Collections
About the Author
Gore Vidal has received the National Book Award, written numerous novels, short stories, plays and essays. He has been a political activist and as Democratic candidate for Congress from upstate New York, he received the most votes of any Democrat in a half-century.
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