The Golden Age

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The concluding volume in Gore Vidal's American empire novels presents a vibrant tapestry of American political and cultural life from 1939 to 1954, capturing the transformation of the nation from a republic into an empire amid the tumult of World War Two and the Cold War. Central to the narrative are Caroline Sanford, a D.C. newspaper publisher turned Hollywood producer, and her nephew Peter Sanford, who publishes the independent journal The American Idea. They witness Franklin Roosevelt's skillful efforts to draw a reluctant nation into World War Two, followed by Harry Truman's commitment to a prolonged struggle against Communism. Despite their skepticism about these developments, they observe the emergence of an American global empire. The story unfolds primarily in Washington, D.C., while also highlighting the influential Hollywood film industry and New York's cultural scene. Alongside historical figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Hopkins, and Wendell Wilkie, Vidal himself appears vividly in the narrative, enriching the exploration of this pivotal era in American history.