Gore Vidal is one of the most significant American writers of thesecond half of the twentieth century, having produced a largenumber of best selling novels, essays, plays and pamphlets whichhave impacted on major political and social debates for fiftyyears. He is both a serious writer and a television and moviecelebrity, whose increasingly acerbic picture of the United Statesguarantees he is both revered and reviled. br br br Gore Vidal's America examines the ways in which Vidal's writings onhistory, politics, sex and religion throw into focus ourunderstandings of the United States, but also recognizes hisversatility and inventiveness as a creative writer, some of whosenovels - Julian Myra Breckinridge Lincoln Duluth - are among theimportant literary works of their time. br br br Ranging from Vidal's early defence of homosexuality in The City andthe Pillar 1948 to his most recent writings on the war in Iraq, this book provides a unique perspective on the evolution ofpost-World War II A