Views from a Window: Conversations With Gore Vidal

by Bob Stanton, Gore Vidal

An imaginative collection of Vidal interviews given over twenty years, full of witty, brilliant, and unconventional comments on his own life and work as well as American politics, values, and sexuality

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1980

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading this book --- made up largely of a series of interviews from 1960 to 2003 of the great writer, wit, playwright, scriptwriter, thinker, social critic and essayist, GORE VIDAL --- I was once again reminded of the value of such a prodigious and versatile talent whom his many critics and detractors strove mightily to, at first destroy --- and failing that, to marginalize. Whatever one might think of Vidal, he was NOT dull. He has left us a vast body of work, spanning from the publication of his first novel, "Williwaw", in 1946, to his 3 critical analyzes a decade ago of the state of our political system, the invention of our nation from the perspective of the Founding Fathers, and his "Imperial America: Reflections on the United States of Amnesia."

This was a book I thoroughly relished reading. It made me think, laugh, reflect, and re-examine much of what we understand of ourselves as Americans and our relationship with the world, as well as prevailing perspectives on the arts, literature, history, politics, and religion.

GORE VIDAL was a courageous man. And for me, as one who was privileged to meet him in person at a public event in Washington in September 2000, he was the one writer who could always challenge, excite, and stir up my thinking. So, even if I was not always in agreement with some of Gore Vidal's views, I grew much in understanding of power and how it is (and has been, throughout history) exercised throughout the world --- as well as of people of power and influence --- because of his contributions. Vidal's passing is a loss for us all.

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gore on sex, "I've tried everything, though not animals. The vegetable kingdom once held great fascination for me", to his novelist peers. Re Alexander Solshenytzin: "He is a bad novelist and a fool. The combination usually makes for great popularity in America." Gore had a marvelous idea here; reproduce his conversations with journalists and friends over several decades but in thematic, not chronological display. This book is a pure delight even if you are not a Vidal fan. One more note, on J.F. Kennedy: "Jack was sick; mostly in the body but also in the head. Kennedy loved war."

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and his irreverance!

[Justin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there have been a few published interview collections of Gore Vidal, there’s only one that he was directly involved in, and as a result, it is the best. Views from a Window: Conversations With Gore Vidal, edited by Vidal with author Robert J. Stanton (1980), compiles nearly two decades’ worth of conversations with the author, playwright, and essayist. Full of Vidal’s characteristic wit, bravado, and imminent charm, it also conveys his deep concern for humanity’s future.

What is striking about this collection is not just the quality of the interviews, which were carried out by Stanton as well as numerous other interviewers, but the formatting. Instead of the laborious task of reading them chronologically with little to no editing, Views from a Window is arranged thematically, covering Vidal’s biography, thoughts on books and other writers, politics, and the chance of human survival. It jumps around from interview to interview, removing unnecessary, repetitive answers and offering up the choicest selections from the lot. This made reading it a rewarding delight.

These interviews present Vidal at the height of his powers, capping out around the time of his writing the philosophically-dense novel, Creation (1981). You get a sense of his patrician upbringing, his full-throated defense of sexual freedom, disdain for the American Empire, and an acerbically opinionated view of writers such as Norman Mailer and Susan Sontag. As editor, Vidal also inserted notes for factual errors or changes of judgment.

In the final section of the book, devoted to “survival,” Vidal lays out his vision for a society predicated on strict control of the public sphere and broad freedom within the private sphere— in effect, a form of liberal socialism dedicated to broad public goods and enshrined individual rights. While his views on population control have aged like milk, and his lauding of a racist eugenicist like William Shockley makes one’s blood also curdle, his overall vision of a liberal socialist society is praiseworthy.

In interviews, Vidal often gave as good as he got, and Views from a Window shows both interviewers and interviewee at the top of their game.

[Susan Chow-Dukhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gore Vidal did numerous interviews and discussed multiple topics. Robert Stanton worked with Gore Vidal, cutting a pasting questions and responses from different interview, to produce a book that organizes the questions in different categories.
This book will be of interest to anybody who is interested in Mr. Vidal's history, upbringing, viewpoints, and opinions on both his works and the works of other authors. As Mr. Vidal had input on the final version of book, don't expect any dirt, shocking revelations or personal information of a private nature.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant series of interviews with a brilliant man. So few people seem to be awake and aware these days. Vidal knew this before the dumbing down of America. His historical novels should be required reading in high schools but that probably won't happen. Too many people are terrified of actually....gasp! ...using their brains.