Myra Breckinridge (1968) - Gore Vidal Audiobook

Written by Gore Vidal
Read by Michelle Hendley, Camille Paglia
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 32 Kbps
Unabridged

Series: Myra and Myron, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 05-21-19
Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Note - Track One is a 23 min introduction written and read by Camille Paglia

The outrageous and immortal, gender-bending and polymorphously perverse, over-the-top, and utterly on-target comic masterpiece from the bestselling author of Burr, Lincoln, and the National Book Award-winning United States.

“I am Myra Breckinridge, whom no man will ever possess.” – From her diary.

So begins the irresistible testimony of the luscious instructor of Empathy and Posture at Buck Loner’s Academy of Drama and Modeling. Myra has a secret that only her surgeon shares; a passion for classic Hollywood films, which she regards as the supreme achievements of Western culture; and a sacred mission to bring “heteronormative civilization to its knees”.

No one remains untouched by the luscious Myra Breckinridge’s quest for Hollywood fame. Her job gives her the perfect opportunity to vamp, scheme, and seduce her way into the undiscovered lives and passions of others - while trying to keep a few secrets of her own.

Fifty years after its first publication unleashed gales of laughter, delight, and ferocious dissent (”Has literary decency fallen so low?” asked Time), Myra Breckinridge’s moment to instruct and delight has once again arrived.

How to view this book? Keep in mind, Gore Vidal was a brillant excentric. Some reviews….
“For the record, Gore Vidal was an intellectual who believed sex was a tool of the weak-minded. He didn’t care much for love or physical relationships, and this book, above all else, shows that. To his credit, Gore Vidal hated everyone equally, because everyone was dumber than him. At least he thought so.”

“Writing does not get better than this, but it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s sick and twisted, but hilarious and beautifully written.”

“This is a true satire, lashing out at all who stand in Myra’s path (including Myra herself). Everyone and everything is so completely over-the-top and preposterous in this universe, and the plot is so patently ridiculous, I can’t imagine you would ever take any of it seriously”.

“In the midst of this there are some golden innocents, archetypal, who are the suffering playthings that we may reasonably see as representative of the old American ideals being ravished and metamorphosed.”

Personal note….I always had a problem getting past the man himself (he was such as ass) but his historical fiction is excellent.