Vidal was a man of vast contradictions and enormous energy: a brawler with aristocratic pretensions, an intellectual and a workhorse, a tireless sexual adventurer and genius. His houses were grand, his feuds ( with Truman Capote, Bobby Kennedy and Norman Mailer ) were legendary, the scope of his friendships ( with Tennessee Williams, Paul Newman, John F. Kennedy, Princess Margaret ) unparalleled.
Firstly, the person who wrote this cover blurb has not read this book. Vidal meet Kennedy several time but there was no friendship and what relationship there was ended abruptly after Vidal got liquored up at the White House and failed to cover himself with glory.
This is a good entertainment, Pirini was a friend of Vidal's for 30 plus years but its not a hagiography. He is well aware of Vidal's short comings and doesn't shy away from apportioning blame where it is deserved.
Vidal did know 'everyone' he lived a life where through his family and his talent he mingled with politicians the theater and movies from his teens up until his death aged 86.
He was a brilliant essayist, his collection "United States 1952 -1992 is stunning. Personally I have trouble reading his fiction, some is very clever, too clever and can be overly 'wordy'.
This book precis's his novels and memoirs with Vidal's reactions attached. His reaction to poor reviews was legendary. He never forgot a bad review and was notoriously thin skinned about criticism. Narcissistic to the core bad reviews were a result of poor critics never his writing.
He lived with Howard Austen for over 50 years ,it was hardly an exclusive relationship but the depth of feelings was apparent after Howard pre-deceased him and he seemed to give up on life, trying desperately to drink himself to death.
Like many who have lived a life in the spotlight Vidal did not handle it well when he slipped from the spot light, he stilled lectured but his fame petered out. His alcoholism no doubt helped with this as he became less reliable and tended to ramble.
But reading this no matter how thinned skinned, how nasty, how vain he could be, his dedication to hard work could not be faulted. Tired or hungover he religiously wrote, always planning something, a book, a play, a screen play or review.
He was a fascinating individual, unfortunately it doesn't look like he kept a diary. It would be explosive.
This is a good biography, it flows, its honest and not tedious, tedious is bad.
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