Word: myra
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...time in Rome, soaking up local color for his first novel in ten years. Julian (1964), a vivid study of the 4th century Roman Emperor who vainly tried to stem the spread of Christianity, was a surprise bestseller. A string of successful novels followed, including the memoirs of Myra Breckinridge (1968), Vidal's funniest word on fuddled sexual identity...
...fact, Julian and Myra Breckinridge suggest Vidal's startling range as a literary mime. He can pull off convincing impersonations of both an ascetic, driven emperor and a movie-mad transsexual-and impress history buffs with his faithful reproduction of Aaron Burr. He exhibits this talent in private as well. The distinctive, stentorian voice can shift eerily into that of J.F.K. or Richard Nixon. When telling an anecdote, Vidal regularly falls into the tones and mannerisms of its subject. He can do a wry impression of Tennessee Williams, explaining what happened to Blanche DuBois...
Such a scenario, Vidal admits, is impossible. "You can't write -how to put it discreetly?-adventurous books like Julian and Myra Breckinridge and then make the trip to Pennsylvania Avenue...
Such gossip is the stuff of Washington politics−and of Myra MacPherson's new book, The Power Lovers: An Intimate Look at Politicians and Their Marriages (Putnam; $10). But MacPherson, 40, a feature writer for the Washington Post, has more on her mind than conventional tattling. In putting together interviews with some 30 famous husband-and-wife teams, she develops a thesis: satisfying marriage and family life are almost impossible in politics, at least...
...Myra MacPherson...