“The first grown-up book that I read on my own was a nineteenth-century edition of 'Tales from Livy' that I'd found in my grandfather's library.”

American writer and public intellectual

Gore Vidal was an American writer and public intellectual, known for his sharp, epigrammatic wit. He is remembered for fiction and essays that challenged the social and sexual norms he saw shaping American life. His work often took aim at public morality, politics, and the habits of American society. He was also deeply involved in politics and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic Party candidate, first for the United States House of Representatives in 1960 and later for the United States Senate in 1982.