Julian by Gore Vidal
"Julian" by Gore Vidal is a historical novel that delves into the life of Emperor Julian, a pivotal figure in the early development of Western civilization. Set in the aftermath of Julian's death in 363 CE, the narrative unfolds through the perspectives of his contemporaries, philosophers Libanius and Priscus, who seek to publish Julian's memoir to counter the rise of Christianity under Emperor Theodosius. The story reveals Julian's complex relationship with Christianity, shaped by his upbringing in a family of Christian emperors and his eventual disenchantment with the church's political machinations.
Vidal's portrayal emphasizes Julian's ascetic lifestyle, military prowess, and his efforts to revive pagan traditions in a rapidly changing religious landscape. The novel intricately weaves historical facts with imaginative insights into Julian's motives and thoughts, offering readers a blend of entertainment and education. As Julian embarks on a military campaign against Persia, his vision for a pluralistic religious landscape hangs in the balance, ultimately culminating in his tragic death and the subsequent decline of Hellenism. Through this work, Vidal invites exploration of themes such as faith, power, and the clash of ideologies that have shaped Western history.
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Julian by Gore Vidal
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1964
Type of work: Novel
The Work
Julian was Vidal’s first venture into historical fiction. History fascinates him, and he has read as widely in the field as most professional historians. Vidal adheres closely to the historical record, but as a novelist he can do two things that professional historians cannot: He can invent facts when the facts are not known, and he can ascribe motives to historical figures. In both cases, Vidal carefully invents facts and motives that seem most likely to have been true historically. Vidal intends to entertain, but he also intends to instruct: He gives a historically accurate portrait of Julian and explores with his readers the origins of Western civilization.
The novel opens in 380 c.e., seventeen years after Emperor Julian’s death during an invasion of Persia. Two old friends of Julian, the philosophers Libanius of Antioch and Priscus of Athens, learn that the Emperor Theodosius has declared an end to toleration of Christian and non-Christian “heresy.” Libanius has heard a rumor that Priscus possesses the only copy of a memoir written by Julian. He proposes that they publish the memoir to remind the world of Julian’s previous attempt to stop the spread of Christianity. The novel, then, consists of Julian’s memoir, interspersed with letters and comments by Libanius and Priscus, who were eyewitnesses to the events described by Julian. They “correct” his version of events and add their own perspectives.
Julian (Flavius Claudius Julianus), born about 331, is a descendent of the Christian emperors Constantine the Great and Constantius II. Constantius kills all the other members of Julian’s family to prevent any challenge to his authority. Julian saves himself by making sure he is not seen as a threat. He lives a secluded life, aiming first to be a priest and later studying philosophy with some of the greatest minds of his age.
Yet Julian loses his faith in Christianity, even though he has a religious mentality and personality. His friends say that at another time Julian might well have been a Christian saint. He leads a life of asceticism and, after his wife’s death, maintains sexual celibacy. His faith breaks because he grows up in an age when church bureaucrats gain control of Christianity and rob it of its mystery by carrying on dry and learned battles over esoteric matters. They engage in political intrigues that neglect or distort Jesus’s simple message of love. Julian is drawn to Jesus but detests the church that speaks in his name. As a young boy, Julian witnesses Christians beating and killing other Christians. He cannot square Christian violence and brutality with Jesus’s message of peace and love. Simultaneously, he reads the works of non-Christian scholars, who teach pre-Christian Greek philosophy and religion.
Meanwhile, Constantius brings Julian out of seclusion to play a role in governing the huge Roman Empire. In 355 c.e., Constantius places Julian in control of the Roman provinces beyond the Alps. The young, ascetic scholar proves to be a military genius and quickly wins the love of his troops. In 361, Constantius dies, and Julian becomes emperor.
As emperor, Julian proclaims religious toleration for both Christians and non-Christians. Julian says that he is going to punish Christians by forbidding them to do what they enjoy most—persecuting one another. He sacrifices to the old gods of Mount Olympus and tries to revive the pagan temples and rituals. He lays plans to breathe new life into Hellenism, the civilization inherited from Greece. He also, Vidal believes, is captivated by Alexander the Great’s vision of conquering the known world.
Julian invades Persia and drives deep into the heart of that empire. He wins many victories but is killed—murdered, Vidal believes, by one of his Christian soldiers. “With Julian, the light went, and now nothing remains but to let the darkness come,” says Libanius. Now nothing stands in the way of the spread of Christianity, and Western civilization enters a thousand-year decline, later called the Dark Ages.
One of Vidal’s biographers asked two outstanding historians of the fourth century Roman Empire to evaluate Julian. The historians agreed that Vidal’s work is probably the best portrait of Julian that exists. Vidal sees the era as crucial to the evolution of the West. If Julian had lived, Vidal believes, Christianity would be only one of several religions in Western civilization.
Bibliography
Dick, Bernard F. The Apostate Angel: A Critical Study of Gore Vidal. New York: Random House, 1974.
Ebersole, Lucinda, and Richard Peabody, eds. Conversations with Gore Vidal. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2005.
Kaplan, Fred. Gore Vidal: A Biography. New York: Doubleday, 1999.
Stanton, Robert J. Gore Vidal: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1978.
Stanton, Robert J., and Gore Vidal, eds. Views from a Window: Conversations with Gore Vidal. Secaucus, N.J.: Lyle Stuart, 1980.
White, Ray Lewis. Gore Vidal. New York: Twayne, 1968.