Remembering Gore Vidal: A Postscript

Abstract

This article analyzes the legacy and significance of Gore Vidal, a prominent American writer of the twentieth century. Fred Kaplan critiques Dennis Altman's claim that Vidal is the most significant American writer of the twentieth century, arguing instead that Vidal's significance lies in his versatility, elegant prose, and examination of important twentieth-century issues. The paper explores Vidal's role as an analyst of major personalities and themes in American history, particularly the conflict between America as a small-scale republic and an international behemoth. Kaplan contends that Vidal was more interested in political and social ideas than in art, which both strengthened and weakened his work. The article also examines Vidal's political ambitions and their impact on his public perception, arguing that his campaigns had little national presence and that the mainstream voting public never perceived him as a viable candidate. Additionally, the paper discusses Vidal's persona as a performer across various media, highlighting his witty, caustic, and provocative presence. The author concludes by speculating on Vidal's need for self-reassurance regarding his importance.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)