“Most children tell themselves stories in which they figure as powerful figures, enjoying the pleasures not only of the adult world as they conceive it but of a world of wonders unlike dull reality.”

American novelist, playwright, and essayist of the mid-20th century, Vidal was a sharp critic of American politics and culture, blending wit and biting satire in his work. His novels and plays, like *Julian* and *Myra Breckinridge*, often explored power, sexuality, and the decline of traditional values. He also left a lasting mark as a public intellectual, known for his polemical essays and television appearances.