by Gore Vidal
First published 2005
These seven stories by Gore Vidal examine characters caught between their desires and society's expectations. A young man discovers his sexuality in postwar America while navigating family disapproval. A married woman questions her choices when confronted with an old lover. A politician struggles to maintain his public image while pursuing forbidden relationships. Each story places ordinary people in moments of moral complexity, where personal truth conflicts with social convention. Vidal writes with sharp observation and unflinching honesty about human nature. The characters face consequences for their choices, some finding liberation while others discover the cost of conformity. The stories reveal how people rationalize their actions and deceive themselves about their motivations.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, social-commentary
Period: Postwar America
128 pages · Paperback · Abacus