A review by lnatal
Empire of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal by Jay Parini
3.0
From BBC radio 4 - Book of the Week:
The authorised behind-the-scenes biography of one of America's great and most under-rated man of letters, the cosmopolitan and wickedly satirical Vidal, from a devoted yet candid old friend.
In Episode 1, the author Jay Parini recalls his first encounter with Gore and describes a privileged, lonely childhood and the birth of the political, social and sexual interests that would last a lifetime.
In Episode 3, despite commercial success, lacklustre reviews of The City and The Pillar send Gore in retreat to Europe where he meets Tennessee Williams - soon to become his great friend.
In Episode 4, Gore turns to writing for the small screen and becomes a star turn at churning out TV drama. Meanwhile, his novels continue to flow but his political ambitions are thwarted.
In Episode 5, Gore finds his largest audience yet, with his ground-breaking novel Myra Breckinridge. He leaves the US and establishes a life in Italy in his dream home on the Amalfi Coast.
Written by Jay Parini
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced and directed by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06nn7cw
The authorised behind-the-scenes biography of one of America's great and most under-rated man of letters, the cosmopolitan and wickedly satirical Vidal, from a devoted yet candid old friend.
In Episode 1, the author Jay Parini recalls his first encounter with Gore and describes a privileged, lonely childhood and the birth of the political, social and sexual interests that would last a lifetime.
In Episode 3, despite commercial success, lacklustre reviews of The City and The Pillar send Gore in retreat to Europe where he meets Tennessee Williams - soon to become his great friend.
In Episode 4, Gore turns to writing for the small screen and becomes a star turn at churning out TV drama. Meanwhile, his novels continue to flow but his political ambitions are thwarted.
In Episode 5, Gore finds his largest audience yet, with his ground-breaking novel Myra Breckinridge. He leaves the US and establishes a life in Italy in his dream home on the Amalfi Coast.
Written by Jay Parini
Read by Toby Jones
Abridged by Eileen Horne
Produced and directed by Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06nn7cw