Gore Vidal, originally Eugene Luther Vidal, was born on October 3, 1925, at West Point. His formative years were shaped by his father's contributions to American aviation and a mother who was a socialite with strong political ties. The family soon relocated to Senator Thomas P. Gore's grand residence in Washington, D.C., a move that had a profound influence on Vidal's upbringing.

Early Education and Influences

Despite never attending college, Vidal was regarded as one of the most scholarly writers of his time. His education began at his grandfather Senator Gore’s home. The senator, who was blind, relied on Vidal to read aloud to him, which allowed Vidal to explore the expansive personal library. Following his parents' divorce in 1935, Vidal moved with his mother to the Auchincloss estate in Virginia. This environment enriched his education through exposure to influential figures from various sectors.

Formative Years and Military Service

Growing up, Vidal was somewhat insulated from the harsher realities of the era, including the Great Depression. He attended St. Albans School and, in 1939, traveled throughout Europe. He later studied at Los Alamos School in New Mexico and completed his education at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. In 1943, Vidal enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving on a transport ship stationed in the Aleutian Islands, where he found the inspiration and opportunity to pen his first novel, Williwaw.

Literary Beginnings and Controversy

After leaving the Army, Vidal worked briefly at E. P. Dutton while completing his second novel, In a Yellow Wood. His breakthrough came with the publication of The City and the Pillar, a novel that frankly addressed homosexuality. The book's subject matter sparked controversy, leading to a backlash from the literary community, which largely ignored his ensuing works. Undeterred, Vidal supported himself in the 1950s by writing mysteries under a pseudonym, Edgar Box, and crafting scripts for television and film.

Hollywood and Political Ventures

Vidal’s years in Hollywood and Broadway bolstered his reputation for sharp wit and intelligence. Notable screenwriting credits included The Catered Affair and Suddenly Last Summer. He also garnered success with his plays, especially Visit to a Small Planet and The Best Man. In 1960, Vidal ran for Congress, earning support from high-profile friends, though he ultimately lost the election. His connection to the Kennedy family, however, deepened his involvement in national affairs.

Return to Novels and Political Activism

In 1964, Vidal published Julian, marking his return to novel writing after a decade. The novel was well-received, heralding a new phase in his literary career with subsequent bestsellers like Myra Breckinridge, Burr, and Lincoln. The political climate of the 1960s and 1970s, rife with civil unrest and scandal, provided rich material for his essays, which were published widely and established him as a formidable social critic.

Television Appearances and Political Engagement

Vidal's incisive social commentary made him a frequent guest on television talk shows, where he was both admired and opposed. He engaged in public feuds with prominent figures like William F. Buckley Jr. and Norman Mailer. Vidal's political involvement deepened; he co-founded the New Party and chaired the People's Party. In 1982, he ran for the U.S. Senate in California, securing second place in the Democratic primary.

Essays and Memoirs

Vidal’s wide-ranging interests were showcased in his collection United States, which won the National Book Award in 1993. His essays critiqued both literary contemporaries and societal issues. In Palimpsest: A Memoir (1995), Vidal revealed personal insights into his life and relationships, including reflections on his first love, Jimmie Trimble. The memoir offered his perspective on various personal and political struggles.

Later Years and Continued Influence

In the 1990s, Vidal took on a new role as a character actor in films like Bob Roberts and Gattaca. In 1998, he became part of the committee selecting the Modern Library’s list of best twentieth-century English-language novels, sparking debate over the exclusions of some writers he criticized for catering to academic tastes. In his later memoir, Point to Point Navigation (2006), Vidal said farewell to his longtime companion, Howard Auster, and relocated to Los Angeles, reflecting on his life and legacy as he approached its end.