Creation (novel)
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 1990 paperback edition |
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| Author | Gore Vidal |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Released | 1 January 1981 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 510 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-394-50015-6 (first edition, hardback) |
Creation is an epic historical fiction novel by Gore Vidal which was published in 1981.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The plot follows the adventures of an imaginary Persian diplomat in the 5th century BC, Cyrus Spitama, who travels the known world comparing the political and religious beliefs of various nation states of the time, and meeting influential philosophical figures such as Zoroaster, Socrates, the Buddha, Mahavira, Lao Tsu, and Confucius. As the grandson of Zoroaster, he grows up in the Persian court as a quasi-noble, and became a close friend of his schoolmate Xerxes. Because of his talent with languages, Cyrus Spitama is sent by the Great King Darius as ambassador to India, but he is more interested in the many religious theories he encounters there than in establishing profitable trade relations for Darius. After Xerxes comes to power, he sends Cyrus Spitama to China, where he spends several years as a captive and "honored guest" in one of the warring states of the Middle Kingdom, and spends a great deal of time with Confucious. On his return to Persia, he witnesses the downfall of Xerxes. He goes into retirement, but is called upon by the Great King Artaxerxes to serve as ambassador to Athens and witness to the secret peace treaty between Pericles and the Persian king. The book is Cyrus Spitama's supposed account of his own experiences, as told to his Greek great-nephew Democritus, with which he wants to set the record straight after hearing Herodotus' speak about the Persian Wars.
[edit] Major themes
Vidal evokes a theme which Robert Graves had previously explored, a skepticism of the reported facts and interpretations of our understanding of History as reported by the winners of its battles. The story features a rather amusingly sarcastic treatment of the pretensions of the glory of Classical Golden Age of Athens. In the parts of the book that comment on history, Vidal makes obvious use of the Histories of Herodotus.
As noted in Vidal's own introduction, it can be considered a "crash course" in comparative religion, as during the story, the hero sits down with each of the religious/philosophical figures (apart from Socrates) and discusses their views.
[edit] Literary significance & criticism
Creation is not generally regarded by critics as one of Vidal's more influential works.[citation needed]
[edit] Historical significance & criticism
In the story, Darius is portrayed as a usurper who murdered King Cambyses and stole the throne from the rightful heir Prince Smerdis, in collusion with Queen Atossa. This revisionist viewpoint, whatever its merit, is not supported by historical facts.
