Gore Vidal

[Paul Mackin]

On Sat, 18 Dec 1999 JBFRAME at aol.com wrote:

> I've always been an admirer of Vidal's social criticism, although he never 
> seems to be able to shake his patrician origins (indeed, why should he?).  
> I've tried to appreciate his fiction, which I've always considered somewhat 
> "light weight."  Some of his novels I have liked, not so much for their 
> literary value, but for what they say about the modern world.  The US history 
> trilogy, _Julian_, _Messiah_, _Creation_, _Lincoln_-- all flawed works that 
> have a great deal of value.  His essays are mostly spot on, gleaming jewels 
> in the critical firmament!
> This being said, I can't put him in the same league with Pynchon.  It's like 
> comparing Melville to Stowe.
> 
> 'Nuff said.

Don't you think Vidal is probably quite aware that he hasn't the inventive
imagination to create great fiction. It's why he sticks so close to
reality in most of his novelistic attempts. I agree definitely
that he is a fine critic, even though he short-changes P. As rj says there
may be some envy behind it. To be as brilliant as he is and still not be
able to do what he really wants to do may be a little nuts making.

			P.