Gore Vidal: A Biography

Name: Gore Vidal: A Biography
Price: 11.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (52 reviews)
Author: Kaplan, Fred

by Kaplan, Fred

Nonfiction Biography Memoir

4.2 (52)

4.2 stars from 52 reviews

881 pages~14.7 hr readPublished by Open Road Media

$11.99At peak price

Last checked: Apr 25, 2026

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Price history: $2.99 – $11.99

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Price range: $2.99 – $11.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're fascinated by mid-century American letters and want the full story of how one writer moved between novels, screenplays, essays, and public feuds.
You enjoy literary biography that treats its subject with both admiration and honest critique, especially when the subject was genuinely important.
You appreciate wit and intelligence in prose, and want to understand how Vidal developed the sharp mind that made him feared at dinner parties.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for a quick read. This is 881 pages of detailed biography, not a highlight reel.
You prefer fiction to biography, or you find literary gossip less engaging than plot-driven narrative.
You want an unauthorised hatchet job. Kaplan respects his subject, and this is scholarly rather than sensational.

About this book

Fred Kaplan's biography examines Gore Vidal, an American author and public intellectual who worked across multiple literary forms. Vidal was a prolific novelist who also wrote for film and theater, and became known for his essays offering analysis of American society, politics, and culture. He was recognized for his wit and intelligence, and moved within prominent cultural circles—his grandfather was a senator, he maintained close connections with the Kennedys, and counted Tennessee Williams among his closest friends. For this biography, Kaplan was granted access to Vidal's papers and letters. The work presents a portrait of Vidal as an exceptional and mercurial writer.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$2.99 – $11.99

Price has dropped 45 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 41 days. Typically stays discounted for 8 days.

Sales Rank

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Currently around #342K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

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Currently 4.2★ from 52 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has climbed from 4.0 to 4.2. Recent readers are rating it higher.

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Based on past patterns, a price drop could happen soon. It typically goes on sale every 41 days and the last drop was 54 days ago. Typical discount: 75% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.