For Gore Vidal, a Final Plot Twist - iSites - Harvard University
For Gore Vidal, a Final Plot Twist - iSites - Harvard University
For Gore Vidal, a Final Plot Twist - iSites - Harvard University
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11/13/13 <strong>For</strong> <strong>Gore</strong> <strong>Vidal</strong>, a <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Plot</strong> <strong>Twist</strong> - NYTimes.com<br />
The Houghton Library at <strong>Harvard</strong> took possession of Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong>’s papers in 2002, and “has done<br />
a great job of organizing his manuscripts, letters and correspondence,” Mr. Parini said.<br />
Today Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong>’s archive and works are housed alongside celebrated writers like Henry James<br />
and Louisa May Alcott.<br />
At the time, <strong>Harvard</strong> said the acquisition had been precipitated by a chance meeting between<br />
James Walsh, Houghton’s retired keeper of printed books, and Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong>, according to a 2002<br />
article in the <strong>Harvard</strong> <strong>University</strong> Gazette.<br />
“Walsh took a trip sponsored by the Boston Athenaeum to Italy,” the article stated. “Author<br />
and bibliophile spent the afternoon conversing and an idea was born. According to <strong>Vidal</strong>, he was<br />
already seriously considering <strong>Harvard</strong> as a repository for his papers as a result of conversations<br />
about the nature of his work with former <strong>Harvard</strong> professor and Lincoln scholar David Herbert<br />
Donald. Houghton Library has long been regarded as a major repository for 19th and 20th<br />
century literary papers, and Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> felt it was an appropriate place for his collection.”<br />
Opinion is divided over how Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> perceived his legacy. To Mr. Wrathall, Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> said he<br />
couldn’t care less about it. Ms. Straight recalled that after they had seen a Shakespeare<br />
production, she said, “Wouldn’t it be fabulous for Shakespeare to somehow see his works still<br />
being performed?”<br />
Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> replied, “Do you think Shakespeare gives a damn, up there tonight, saying ‘Oh my,<br />
what a great revival?’ It’s the here and now, that’s all there is. No one’s keeping score.”<br />
Ms. Straight added, “There was only the ‘<strong>Gore</strong> <strong>Vidal</strong>’ in his own mind and after that, nothing.”<br />
As for his works, “He didn’t give a damn,” she said. “He cared that his books carried on selling,<br />
but didn’t live his life thinking about leaving a legacy.”<br />
But Mr. Tyrnauer recalled Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> saying he would like to set up a foundation to safeguard<br />
the Bill of Rights.<br />
Mr. Steers said, “He would have cared about being kept in the public consciousness and being<br />
deemed to be important.”<br />
In his prime, Mr. <strong>Vidal</strong> spoke to Mr. Parini about turning La Rondinaia into a writers’ retreat.<br />
“It would be great to use his legacy to promote younger writers,” Mr. Parini said, “to set up a<br />
<strong>Gore</strong> <strong>Vidal</strong> Foundation. He was also an immense supporter of left-wing causes, so perhaps a<br />
<strong>Gore</strong> <strong>Vidal</strong> prize in that spirit. <strong>Gore</strong> was never afraid and that kind of boldness is such a scarce<br />
commodity today. That was <strong>Gore</strong>’s greatest quality: his ferocity, his refusal to lie down.”<br />
www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/fashion/In-a-final-plot-twist-<strong>Gore</strong>-<strong>Vidal</strong>-leaves-his-estate-to-<strong>Harvard</strong>-Universtity.html?_r=1&&pagewanted=print 6/8