Empire is a historical novel by Gore Vidal set in the early twentieth-century United States during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. Blending fictional characters with real historical figures, the novel explores political power, media influence, imperial ambitions, and the shifting identity of America as it rises to global prominence. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous …
In the course of this fascinating novel, many characters are introduced; some actual historical figures like President Roosevelt and Senator McCarthy appear in the story (as they did in the history of the period), as well as such fictional creations as Harold Griffiths, a Washington pundit; Enid, Clay's hand- some doomed wife; Irene Bloch, Washing- ton's most ruthless social climber; and finally.