About the Author

Gore Vidal has received the National Book Award, written numerous novels, short stories, plays and essays. He has been a political activist and as Democratic candidate for Congress from upstate New York, he received the most votes of any Democrat in a half-century.

Reviews

'Our greatest living historical novelist.' ANTHONY BURGESS 'An historical novel of awesome scope and scholarship.' OBSERVER 'Highly absorbing, rich in history, irony and erudition.' GUARDIAN, 'Splendid, serene, magisterial.' SUNDAY TIMES

'Our greatest living historical novelist.' ANTHONY BURGESS 'An historical novel of awesome scope and scholarship.' OBSERVER 'Highly absorbing, rich in history, irony and erudition.' GUARDIAN, 'Splendid, serene, magisterial.' SUNDAY TIMES