Empire (1987) is the fourth installment in Gore Vidal’s monumental Narratives of Empire series, a masterful work of historical fiction that examines America’s emergence as a global power at the turn of the 20th century. Set between the Spanish-American War and the early 1900s, the novel weaves together the lives of fictional and real historical figures—including Theodore Roosevelt, William Randolph Hearst, and Henry James—to explore themes of ambition, media manipulation, and the contradictions of democracy in an expanding empire.
The Easton Press edition of Empire is a luxurious collector’s volume, bound in full genuine leather with elaborate gold tooling and 22-karat gilt accents. It features archival-quality paper, a sewn binding for longevity, gilt page edges, a satin ribbon marker, and a classic hubbed spine. This edition is a testament to both Vidal’s literary stature and Easton Press’s commitment to fine bookmaking, making it a prized addition for bibliophiles and admirers of American historical fiction.
Empire is a cornerstone of Vidal’s historical fiction, praised for its sharp wit, meticulous research, and biting critique of American exceptionalism. The Easton Press edition makes it a prized volume for collectors of fine literature and political history.