[driftless2]

They forgot totally deranged. Vidal did have an interesting style comprised by his insane political beliefs. Like virtually all leftist artistes, Vidal thought he had some sort of secret info about the evil U.S. witheld from the rest of the population. Only geniuses like himself knew the extent of the perfidy. In the end, Vidal’s literary output was almost unreadable blinded as was to his hatred for his own country. He probably never got over getting turned down for some political prize because he was a homo.

[driftless2]

correction: comprised is supposed to be compromised.

[PowderMonkey]

"He probably never got over getting turned down for some political prize because he was a homo."

Actually, I'd long suspected his caustic demeanor and anti-American attitude probably originated with having his heart broken by the loss of some lover during during his service in WWII, and he never got over it. That coupled with the backlash from publication of "City and the Pillar" in 1948, reportedly dedicated to James "Jimmy" Trimble III, killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Vidal later said that Trimble was the only person he had ever loved.