Vidals historical novel set in the 5th century bc and narrated by cyrus spitama, son of a persian prince and greek sorceress, grandson of the prophet zoroaster, and ambassador to the courts of india, china and greece. C occasionally he seems to be interested in presenting shrewd alternative versions of textbook history particularly the greekpersian wars, the sort of dustedoff, backroom politics he managed quite well in his american historicals burr, 1876. His first novel, williwaw, written when he was nineteen years old and serving in the army, appeared in the spring of 1946. Gore vidal 1st edition books for sale in stock ebay. In 2002 he published a restored version, reinstating four chapters that a previous editor had cut and adding a brief. Creation signed first edition by gore vidal hardcover 1st. As every schoolboy used to know, the greatest historical period in the world was the fifth century b. Julian is a 1964 novel by gore vidal, a work of historical fiction written primarily in the first person dealing with the life of the roman emperor flavius claudius julianus, known to christians as julian the apostate, who reigned 360363 c.
A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventure in a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidal s original manuscript creation offers a captivating grand tour of the ancient world. A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventurein a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidals. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are. The first edition of the novel was published in 1976, and was written by gore vidal. The gore vidal indexis a site offering information and research on vidal and his work. The buddha was alive, and so were confucius, herodotus, thucydides, pericles, aeschylus, sophocles. In 2002 he published a restored version, reinstating four chapters that a previous editor had cut and adding a brief foreword explaining what had happened and why he had restored the cut chapters. Creation is an epic historical fiction novel by gore vidal published in 1981. Born into a political dynasty, he twice sought elected office.
Dive deep into gore vidals creation with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Think of it as a book published in electronic form. He wrote 23 novels, five plays, many screenplays, short. The main character, cyrus spitama, is the grandson of zarathustra, and his encounters with other 5th century sages are clearly the highlights of the novel. A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventurein a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidals original manuscriptcreation offers a captivating grand tour of the ancient world. In the beginning a historical novel by gore vidal, creation is an odysseus styled dialectic on religious dogma. Gore vidal found this notion so thrilling that he wove a book around it, and a fascinating and delightful book it is.
Its a masterful scrutiny of the tenements which make up our ideals of western culture. Gore vidal 19252012 was born at the united states military academy at west point. The book is a stated first edition with a random house number line that goes to 2, indicating a first printing of the first edition. Gore vidals julian 1964 and creation 1981 are at the top of my list because they choose unusual points of view and launch massive attacks on established holy cows.
Creation by gore vidal penguin random house canada. In the parts of the book that comment on history, vidal makes obvious use of the histories of herodotus. In the case of creation, the point of view is harshly antigreek and propersian. Gore vidals creation begins on the evening of what would be, according to modern reckoning, december 20, 445 b. Gore vidals novel is restored, but the grudge continues. Cyrus spitama, grandson of the prophet zoroaster and lifelong friend of xerxes, spent most of his life as. Unafraid to point fingers and assassinate characters, gore vidal has always been provocative, if not universally liked. Gore vidal books list of books by author gore vidal. Cyrus is fixated on the question of creation, or the origin of the universe or human existence. Creation is a thought provoking book that is just as much an amazing narrative of persian and greek history as it is a look at western civilization today. Vidal decided to create that man, and creation is the result it may be the most panoramic historical novel ever written.
Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. The main character forgets his past and he is tricked to believe that he is on the right side. Cyrus, a fifth century persian, relates the story of his travels and encounters as an ambassador accessrestricteditem. Cyrus spitama, the grandson of the prophet zoroaster, who becomes familiar not only with legendary persians darius, xerxes or greekdemocritus, socrates, herodotus. Once again the incomparable gore vidal interprets and animates history. Looking for a book where the storyline is such that heroes turn out to be villains and villains turn out to be heroes.
I watched a local language movie around 7 years back and this was its storyline. We meet a vast array of historical figures in a stagering novel of love, war, philosophy and adventure. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Finally, let me note that i have no relationship with gore vidal, nor does he have any relationship with this web site. Gore vidal books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes. Under the guarantees of the first amendment, a writer neither needs nor traditionally. Some years ago, gore vidal hit upon the idea that one man, given a long enough life, opportunity to travel, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time, could have met face to face with zoroaster, socrates, the buddha and confucius.
Its absence is what makes this weeks unusual publishing eventthe reissuing of gore vidals historical novel creationmore interesting still. What, if anything, is gore vidal up to in this long, stylish, densely busy but totally undramatic novel of the persian empire, circa 520445 b. A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventure in a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidals original manuscript creation offers a captivating grand. Hes also careful to avoid any anachronistic traces of. Gore vidal was born in 1925 at the united states military academy at west point. In 445 bc cyrus spitama, the persian ambassador to athens, hears herodotus reading from his histories and in response recounts to his nephew democritus. The main characters of this fiction, science fiction story are kalki, teddy ottinger. In his sumptuous historical novel creation, gore vidal proposes a character. Gore vidal 19252012 was an american writer and public intellectual. Once again the incomparable gore vidal interprets and animates history this time in a panoramic tour of the 5th century b. Creation by vidal, gore and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gore vidal was an american author who was best known for his political commentary and television appearances. Creation is a thought provoking book that is just as much an amazing narrative of persian and greek history as it. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 272 pages and is available in paperback format.
Creation by gore vidal, 9780349104751, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Pdf creation book by gore vidal free download 574 pages. Creation book by gore vidal half price books marketplace. The lost pulp crime novel by great american novelist gore vidal. Cyrus spitama, grandson of the prophet zoroaster and lifelong friend of xerxes, spent most of his life as pdf. A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventurein a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidals original. Hired to smuggle an ancient artefact out of egypt, pete wells finds himself the target of killers and femme fatales and just one step away from triggering a revolution that will set ca. While its probably impossible to avoid shallowness in presenting complex philosophical and religious systems in a novel, vidal does a surprisingly good job of it. Pdf kalki book by gore vidal free download 272 pages. Free download or read online creation pdf epub book. Since then he has written twentythree novels, five plays, many screenplays, short stories, well over two hundred essays, and a memoir. The first edition of the novel was published in 1981, and was written by gore vidal.
Hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases customer service todays deals new releases customer service. Born in 1925, vidal rarely had any kind words for his nation, often referring to the united states as a decadent empire ruled by a militaristic dictatorship. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 574 pages and is available in hardcover format. A sweeping novel of politics, war, philosophy, and adventurein a restored edition, featuring neverbeforepublished material from gore vidals original manuscript creation offers a captivating grand tour of the ancient world. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Vidals narrator is cyrus spitama, a fictional grandson of zoroaster, who is raised in the court of darius the great of persia and becomes the great kings ambassador to the lands that lie to the east. This is a first edition, first printing copy of creation, signed by author gore vidal in black ink on the half title page. If a mans legacy were to be gauged by the immediate response to his death, then gore vidals is very much in danger of being reduced to a succession of pithy and caustic sentences that will. His most recent book is worlds end, a collection of stories. He began his literary career in 1946 with the publication of his novel williwaw but did not achieve notoriety until he published his third book the city and the pillar which cause a minor scandal for its depiction of homosexuality.
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