Gore Vidal, Michael Foot, Montaigne and Gramsci

In a brief article, "Through a Vote, Darkly" (The Nation, 26 May 1997), Gore Vidal described some of his experiences in London where he spent some time observing the British electoral campaign as a commentator for the BBC. Following the election and the resounding victory of Tony Blair's New Labour, he visited a stalwart of the "old" Labour Party:

I go to my splendid ancient friend and former head of the Labor Party, Michael Foot: "Blair is excellent. Really excellent." I ask, "Whatever happened to socialism?" At this Mrs. Foot looked grim. "Yes," she asked her husband. "What did?" He smiles. "Socialism? Oh, socialism! Yes! Yes! . . . Well, there's time . . ." I move on. "The young, even in America," I said, "are reading Gramsci." Foot was delighted. "Good. Good. While you and I are reading Montaigne."