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Snapshots in History's Glare
This book is Gore Vidal's visual memoir of his remarkable and famously well-lived life. In this collection of photographs, letters, manuscripts, and other selections from Vidal's vast personal archives, readers are now escorted by one of America's wittiest insiders into the Kennedys' Camelot, as well as onto the set of Ben Hur, and into the private lives of Eleanor Roosevelt, Paul Newman, and Tennessee Williams, to name just a few.
Born into public life, here Vidal looks back on his days as an Army officer in WWII, his rise as a groundbreaking and controversial novelist, his years in Hollywood, his forays into the political arena, and his notoriously public triumphs and feuds. Written with Vidal's legendary wit and literary elegance, this book reveals not only the personal reflections of one of the last of the great generation of American writers, but also a captivating social history of the 20th century told by one of our great raconteurs.
Born into public life, here Vidal looks back on his days as an Army officer in WWII, his rise as a groundbreaking and controversial novelist, his years in Hollywood, his forays into the political arena, and his notoriously public triumphs and feuds. Written with Vidal's legendary wit and literary elegance, this book reveals not only the personal reflections of one of the last of the great generation of American writers, but also a captivating social history of the 20th century told by one of our great raconteurs.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2009
About the author
Gore Vidal
240 books1,936 followersGore Vidal was an American novelist, essayist, screenwriter, playwright and political commentator known for his sharp wit, provocative opinions and criticism of American society. Raised in Washington, D.C., he attended several preparatory schools before graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1943. His maternal grandfather, Thomas Pryor Gore, a Democratic senator from Oklahoma, profoundly influenced his early interest in politics. During World War II, Vidal served in the United States Army and worked aboard a supply ship in the Aleutian Islands. His experiences inspired his first novel, Williwaw (1946), published shortly after his military service.
Vidal attracted controversy with The City and the Pillar (1948), one of the early American novels to portray male homosexuality openly. Its subject provoked conservative critics and established his reputation as a writer willing to challenge prevailing social conventions. He subsequently explored different genres, writing novels, plays, essays and screenplays. His stage comedy Visit to a Small Planet became a theatrical success, while his work in Hollywood included contributions to the screenplay for Ben-Hur (1959).
His historical novels brought him particular recognition. Julian (1964) examined the Roman emperor's attempt to restore paganism, while Burr (1973) and Lincoln (1984) offered fictional interpretations of American political history. Myra Breckinridge (1968), a provocative satire of Hollywood and gender conventions, further demonstrated his willingness to challenge cultural assumptions. His later historical fiction included 1876, Empire and Hollywood, forming part of his broader exploration of American power and national identity.
Vidal was equally influential as an essayist and public intellectual. His collections addressed American foreign policy, religion, sexuality and the political establishment. United States: Essays 1952-1992 won the National Book Award in 1993. His memoir Palimpsest (1995) offered personal reflections on his family, relationships and literary career. Vidal also became famous for televised confrontations with conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 presidential election coverage. Their bitter exchanges made him a prominent figure in American political debate.
His political involvement extended beyond commentary. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in New York in 1960 and for the United States Senate in California in 1982. He later chaired the People's Party and remained an outspoken critic of American militarism, corporate influence and the expansion of executive power. His views frequently placed him at odds with political leaders and fellow intellectuals, including writer Norman Mailer.
Vidal spent much of his later life in Italy before returning to the United States. He continued writing essays, novels and memoirs into his final years, maintaining his reputation for intellectual independence and irreverence. His work examined the relationship between private ambition and public power, often questioning conventional accounts of American history. He died in 2012, leaving a substantial literary legacy spanning fiction, political criticism and cultural commentary.
Vidal attracted controversy with The City and the Pillar (1948), one of the early American novels to portray male homosexuality openly. Its subject provoked conservative critics and established his reputation as a writer willing to challenge prevailing social conventions. He subsequently explored different genres, writing novels, plays, essays and screenplays. His stage comedy Visit to a Small Planet became a theatrical success, while his work in Hollywood included contributions to the screenplay for Ben-Hur (1959).
His historical novels brought him particular recognition. Julian (1964) examined the Roman emperor's attempt to restore paganism, while Burr (1973) and Lincoln (1984) offered fictional interpretations of American political history. Myra Breckinridge (1968), a provocative satire of Hollywood and gender conventions, further demonstrated his willingness to challenge cultural assumptions. His later historical fiction included 1876, Empire and Hollywood, forming part of his broader exploration of American power and national identity.
Vidal was equally influential as an essayist and public intellectual. His collections addressed American foreign policy, religion, sexuality and the political establishment. United States: Essays 1952-1992 won the National Book Award in 1993. His memoir Palimpsest (1995) offered personal reflections on his family, relationships and literary career. Vidal also became famous for televised confrontations with conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 presidential election coverage. Their bitter exchanges made him a prominent figure in American political debate.
His political involvement extended beyond commentary. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in New York in 1960 and for the United States Senate in California in 1982. He later chaired the People's Party and remained an outspoken critic of American militarism, corporate influence and the expansion of executive power. His views frequently placed him at odds with political leaders and fellow intellectuals, including writer Norman Mailer.
Vidal spent much of his later life in Italy before returning to the United States. He continued writing essays, novels and memoirs into his final years, maintaining his reputation for intellectual independence and irreverence. His work examined the relationship between private ambition and public power, often questioning conventional accounts of American history. He died in 2012, leaving a substantial literary legacy spanning fiction, political criticism and cultural commentary.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 20, 2018
Another episode from my deep dive into all things Vidal.
This excellent collection of photos and memorabilia would be perfect to have on hand as one plows through a biography. This was Vidal's last book, however, and his pompous verbose style detracts in this format. He was notoriously prickly with editors, and one feels he was given his way here instead of being pruned and refined. One thing about Vidal — right to the bitter end he never gave up on trying to settle old scores.
This excellent collection of photos and memorabilia would be perfect to have on hand as one plows through a biography. This was Vidal's last book, however, and his pompous verbose style detracts in this format. He was notoriously prickly with editors, and one feels he was given his way here instead of being pruned and refined. One thing about Vidal — right to the bitter end he never gave up on trying to settle old scores.
February 20, 2015
An enjoyable brief autobiographical book from Gore Vidal. The purpose of it was to highlight photographs taken by his late partner Howard Auster who had at one time expressed a desire to publish a book of them, as a record of his and Vidal's life together. Other photos, playbills, book jackets, letters and press clippings are shown in addition to the commentary from the as ever witty and erudite author. The book stands as a pleasing introduction to the celebrated life of this uniquely positioned commentator on the political and cultural world in which he existed, and I am sure provides encouragement if any were needed to pick up his longer, fine autobiographies, Palimpsest and Point To Point Navigation.
March 29, 2010
When you mention Gore Vidal, what comes to mind? A novelist? Essayist? Playwright? A Politician? Commentator? Screenwriter? A Raconteur? A Socialite...?
Of course, the right answer is `all of the above.' In fact, it might be argued that Gore Vidal is America's ultimate renaissance man. Certainly, his latest book, `Snapshots in History's Glare' does nothing to dispel this notion.
From his early days growing up in a political family in Virginia, his days at boys school, his associations with writers like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, the political years with Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, as a confidante of the Kennedys as well as his own political ambitions, to the intoxicating highlife of the movie and showbiz worlds, Vidal has enjoyed a life like few others.
This book, which could alternately be described as a scrapbook, an annotated photo album or perhaps even a visual memoir, is an amazing collection of every phase of Vidal's life from Virginia to New York, to Hollywood (twice) to his many years along the Amalfi coast. Anchored by photographs and mementos saved by his long time companion, Howard Russell Auster (whose death was the inspiration for this book), Vidal has assembled a completist's collection of everything from early handwritten notes from political figures, to Hollywood letters, to an impressive collection of photographs of the rich and famous and even pictures of most of his movie posters and his many, many book covers. (Including when as the bete noire of the New York Times book editor, he was forced to adopt the nome-de-plume, Edgar Box!)
Vidal was certainly a bon-vivant of his generation, entertaining at times various celebrities from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol, Norman Mailer to David Hockney, to decades long relationships with Johnny Carson, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and others. Vidal's commentary offers his clever and sometimes acerbic remembrances of events past, such as how he was denied credit for the film epic `Ben-Hur' though later was successful in suing MGM to obtain personal vindication. (One must observe, as well, the caustic words he saved for his famed debate partner, the late William F. Buckley.)
In the book, Vidal periodically whines that the glory days are now behind us. Given the depth of the rarified lifestyle he enjoyed over the last 60 years, he may very well be right.
Of course, the right answer is `all of the above.' In fact, it might be argued that Gore Vidal is America's ultimate renaissance man. Certainly, his latest book, `Snapshots in History's Glare' does nothing to dispel this notion.
From his early days growing up in a political family in Virginia, his days at boys school, his associations with writers like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, the political years with Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, as a confidante of the Kennedys as well as his own political ambitions, to the intoxicating highlife of the movie and showbiz worlds, Vidal has enjoyed a life like few others.
This book, which could alternately be described as a scrapbook, an annotated photo album or perhaps even a visual memoir, is an amazing collection of every phase of Vidal's life from Virginia to New York, to Hollywood (twice) to his many years along the Amalfi coast. Anchored by photographs and mementos saved by his long time companion, Howard Russell Auster (whose death was the inspiration for this book), Vidal has assembled a completist's collection of everything from early handwritten notes from political figures, to Hollywood letters, to an impressive collection of photographs of the rich and famous and even pictures of most of his movie posters and his many, many book covers. (Including when as the bete noire of the New York Times book editor, he was forced to adopt the nome-de-plume, Edgar Box!)
Vidal was certainly a bon-vivant of his generation, entertaining at times various celebrities from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol, Norman Mailer to David Hockney, to decades long relationships with Johnny Carson, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and others. Vidal's commentary offers his clever and sometimes acerbic remembrances of events past, such as how he was denied credit for the film epic `Ben-Hur' though later was successful in suing MGM to obtain personal vindication. (One must observe, as well, the caustic words he saved for his famed debate partner, the late William F. Buckley.)
In the book, Vidal periodically whines that the glory days are now behind us. Given the depth of the rarified lifestyle he enjoyed over the last 60 years, he may very well be right.
February 1, 2015
As I have been reading my way through so many Gore Vidal books and viewing his interviews, I kept trying to google photos of his homes and friends and places he spoke of and was always disappointed. As I was replacing a couple of memoirs just finished back on their shelf, I noted a very large flat book resting on top of the other books on the top shelf so I got my reacher (old lady here) and pulled it down on top of myself only to find it was Vidals book of photos of his life as taken and collected by his partner Howard over the course of their life together. Here was a trove of photos of his friends and his homes. I enjoyed every page. I bought this as soon as it came out in 2009 for over 50.00 an unheard of price for me to spend on a single book but worth every penny and finding it again just when I was wishing for such a thing but had forgotten I had it was a real pleasure.
February 21, 2018
A fascinating life told in the most accessible and interesting of ways.
March 2, 2021
Best Kennedy gossip: When Jackie let it be known she no longer wanted to be called Jackie, but Jacqueline one of her Kennedy sisters-in-law noted that it rhymed with 'queen'. Good one.
November 3, 2022
Snapshots in History’s Glare (2009) is Gore Vidal’s photo memoir, filled with unique stories of his life with pictures and memorabilia from his decades in the public eye. This project started as the brainchild of Vidal’s long-time partner, Howard Austen, whose photography collection he had intended to turn into a book, but died before he could. Vidal completed the project as a tribute to his late partner. Here you learn of his early childhood, growing up in the home of Oklahoma Senator T. P. Gore, his grandfather, who had a strong influence on Gore Vidal’s life. A blind man, the senator often used young Gore as a reader and later page during congressional sessions, which inspired the young Gore’s long lifetime of adoring literature, history, and politics. You learn of his parents, Eugene and Nina Vidal, the former an aviation pioneer who worked for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the latter a socialite whose mercurial nature left Gore cold. He talks of his days at Exeter Academy and the debate club, where he excelled at arguing against war in Europe, before Pearl Harbor changed the trajectory of the US and he enlisted to serve after high school.
Vidal’s post-war life centered on writing novels, television plays, and theater productions, of which 1960’s The Best Man was certainly his best. From there he became the stuff of legend, writing iconic works such as Myra Breckinridge to his American historical novels like Burr and Lincoln. He also ran for political office twice, for Congress in 1960 and the Senate in 1982, with the 1960 campaign a key highlight due to Gore’s connection to John F. Kennedy. You also learn of his many deep friendships, from Johnny Carson and Paul Newman to Joanne Woodward and Susan Sarandon, as well as his public feuds with Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, and, of course, his 1968 debates with William F. Buckley, Jr. A lot of the photos in the collection had never been seen by the public, especially ones taken by Austen at their home in Ravello, Italy. I loved reading this book and seeing all of the interesting snapshots of the legendary life of one of America’s greatest writers. Swipe to see some of my favorite photos from the book.
Vidal’s post-war life centered on writing novels, television plays, and theater productions, of which 1960’s The Best Man was certainly his best. From there he became the stuff of legend, writing iconic works such as Myra Breckinridge to his American historical novels like Burr and Lincoln. He also ran for political office twice, for Congress in 1960 and the Senate in 1982, with the 1960 campaign a key highlight due to Gore’s connection to John F. Kennedy. You also learn of his many deep friendships, from Johnny Carson and Paul Newman to Joanne Woodward and Susan Sarandon, as well as his public feuds with Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, and, of course, his 1968 debates with William F. Buckley, Jr. A lot of the photos in the collection had never been seen by the public, especially ones taken by Austen at their home in Ravello, Italy. I loved reading this book and seeing all of the interesting snapshots of the legendary life of one of America’s greatest writers. Swipe to see some of my favorite photos from the book.
March 31, 2010
Gore Vidal's last song and dance, a photo memoir with explanatory dialogue of his rather long and eventful life, from childhood at the table of his grandfather senator in Washington, to the pinnacles of American letters. It is delightfully witty, delightfully chatty and name-droppy, and features endless photos of Vidal with famous figures in history, (Eleanor Roosevelt, Truman and especially JFK) literary circles, (Tennessee Williams, Norman Mailer et al) and Hollywood, (Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and others). His homes in New York, Ravello, Italy and Southern California are photographed, too, and his long partnership with Howard Austen. This is a delight, and a nice scrapbook for the "greatest living American."
August 23, 2011
This is a beautiful photo-biography, a great-value album for all the Vidal fans. Covering much of his life, the pictures are accompanied by captions and commentary by the man himself, with his usual mixture of sarcasm, wit and even some candor. I particulary liked all the La Rondinaia pictures and all the pictures with the Newman-Woodward couple. But what I found most delicious about this book is that the photographs, or at least the majority of them, are just private snapshots (hence the title) intended not as a pose, an exercise of vanity, but real intimate pictures, of something to be remembered later.
June 8, 2010
Gore Vidal was/is a complex and highly creative man who lived during a wonderful time in America and abroad. He hs penned numerous books, screenplays, and short stories. He has done television interviews, worked political parties from both sides of the political fence. He has lived life large and in the fast lane. I admire his writing ability quite a lot and this particular book has many photos of the places he visited and lived. It provides some keen insight into the character he is/was and how his life evolved over time. Simply magnificent!
September 19, 2012
Fabulous! The photos of Vidal's home on the Amalfi coast are extraordinary!! The home was built into a cliff, and is surely one of the most spectacular & fascinating places on our planet. The book also beautifully chronicles the extraordinary friendship between Vidal and Paul Newman. Vidal knew everybody who was anybody so everyone from Tennessee Williams and Jack Kennedy to Sting, Mick Jagger & Hilary Clinton pops up in this book.
March 3, 2012
It's a bit about life-envy really: a glorious home on the hills of the Amalfi coast looking out to the sea, Paul Newman and Susan Sarandon and Mick Jagger dropping in for dinner and a swim, with the knowledge that the conversation would never have been dull. I'll happily wallow in the pictures of that section of the book for a while.
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November 18, 2013Many interesting snapshots of friends: Tennessee Williams; Joanne Woodward & Paul Nuewman, very close friends; Paul Bowles; Jacquelyn Kennedy; Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger; and many more. Enjoyed the commentary, and readable photos of letters also.
June 27, 2010
Fun read, brilliant man.
September 18, 2011
I'm thoroughly enjoying this book. I love the concept of using a life long photographer friends' photos to help tell your life story.
January 12, 2012
Wonderful pictures, wonderful commentary. My only complaint is that some of the print from letters or articles is too small - I needed a magnifying glass.
February 27, 2016
candid as Gore Vidal can be...photo--doc--commentary--
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews