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| A First Edition, First Printing of Gore Vidal's 1952 Novel, The Judgment of Paris. |
The Judgment of Paris is a Sophisticated Re-Telling of an Old Myth
"As he looked at her by firelight, saw her smile, the silver mirror dissolved before his eyes, dispelling its ungrieved ghosts like smoke upon the night, and beyond her in the dark, a promise at the present's farthest edge, a dreaming figure stirred and opened her golden eyes." - Excerpt from Gore Vidal's The Judgment of Paris
"The choice between Knowledge and Power is false; they are the same. But when compared with Love (the third choice) something curious happens: they glint off of one another to actually reveal themselves all as part of choice four: Time. And we are sailing upon it." - A very smart Berliner
I recently moved back to Toronto following a short Pandemic induced exile in Saskatchewan. While in Saskatchewan, on a whim one day I decided to order a copy of The Judgment of Paris by Gore Vidal from ABE Books. Since books are now a buyer's market, I was able to get my hands on a First Edition, First Printing of the Novel, which pleased me immensely since it's one of my favourite reads.
The Judgment of Paris was first published in 1952, and it remains one of my all time favourites for many reasons. Gore Vidal, the Author, was an Aristocrat, prolific writer, and a member of the American political class during his time. He famously published one of the earliest Novels to feature a Transsexual Protagonist, Myra Breckinridge, in 1968. That year Vidal also, famously, debated William F. Buckley on live television during the Democratic and Republican conventions. These debates would shape the future of television news coverage in the United States.
Although Vidal's writing covered a wide variety of topics and themes, The Judgment has long been a favourite of mine because it is one of his warmest books.
The Novel is based upon the Myth of Paris and the Golden Apple. According to legend, The Judgment of Paris was a contest between three beautiful Goddesses - Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena, for the prize of a Golden Apple addressed to, "the Fairest."
Philip Warren, the book's Protagonist, takes the place of the Golden Apple here. He is 27-years-old, a recent Law School graduate, and a Veteran of the U.S. Military. It is implied that he served during the Second World War. Warren is unambiguously heterosexual, though he receives no shortage of propositions from gay men during the book's course of events.
Most importantly, for the plot's sake, Philip is someone who has yet to make up his mind as to what he will accomplish in life; what he stands for.
At evenly spaced intervals Philip is introduced to the three Goddesses. Power is represented by Regina Durham, the wife of a powerful American Politician. Her aim is to convince Philip to return to America where he can begin a brilliant political career.
Knowledge is represented by the independently wealthy Sophia Oliver, an intellectual who Philip meets while in Egypt. Her goal is to steer Philip into a life of study and contemplation.
Anna Morris, the wife of a wealthy Industrialist, represents Love. Philip's eventual choice will both define him and shape his future.
As he develops the main plot, Vidal takes the reader on a number of highly entertaining detours. We are introduced to Lord Glenellen, a British peer with more money than ideas. He gets his best moments in the Novel when introducing Philip to the Baths of Nero in Rome. As things progress Lord Glenellen jumps from one political ideology to another. He is last seen working as a key player for the Augustans, a cult in Paris, France, devoted to the worship of a Hermaphrodite. In other words, the worship of a False God.
His female counterpart Zoe Helotius is a wealthy widow whose life is a never ending circuit of official receptions and other functions. She takes pleasure in growing her Rolodex and 'collecting' other wealthy and influential people by inviting them to one of her many Villas. Miss Helotius is also played for laughs by Vidal. A variation on the worship of False Gods.
Other bit players in The Judgment of Paris are more sympathetic. Particularly the character of Jim, a blond American in Paris who makes his living as an Escort. Vidal sketches Jim's downfall to an Opium addiction with some of the most beautiful, heartbreaking prose I've read in a long time:
"How do you feel?" asked Philip, curiously. "Like I'm dreaming... a little like a dream of flying." "Better than love?" "Wouldn't you rather fly than make love?" "Any day."
There are several other supporting characters in the Novel who are as interesting as the Protagonist in their own right. Such as Mr. Willys, a morbidly obese man with a wish to die, and Fay Peabody, an acclaimed Detective Fiction Author visiting Cairo to research her next book.
The supporting cast and their side adventures really help with the Novel's pacing. The Judgment of Paris builds up to the choice Philip must make. Vidal expertly uses the technique of foreshadowing here. If you pay close attention, you know early on what our Hero's choice will be when the moment comes.
And what a moment. The climax occurs on a barge during a party hosted by Zoe Helotius. It's neatly contained in the Novel's 13th Chapter. Like all of the book, the conclusion is superbly written. And very moving, from an emotional standpoint.
If you have space in your bookshelf for one more Pandemic read, I highly recommend Gore Vidal's The Judgment of Paris.
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