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Having recently read Julian: Rome’s Last Pagan Emperor I revisited this novel. Following today’s review, I’m including my review from my first read.
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Gore Vidal takes you to a world where Christianity had been planted but not fully rooted. Julian’s ascent to the throne in 331CE was the last opportunity for the vast territory of the Roman Empire to turn back to (what is now called) paganism.

The book’s format is that of Julian’s diary along with the commentary of 2 scholars (Priscus & Libanius) who were Julian’s teacher/colleagues, one of whom is preparing a biography.

The scholars keep a focus on the issue of the times: the worthiness of the many gods (who made Rome great and should not be abandoned) vs the man who claimed to be a god. This debate permeates each phase of Julian’s life and most likely accounts for his death. With the two additional voices, you also get different perspectives on Julian, his relatives, his staff and his situation.

What makes the book are Vidal’s imagined episodes and conversations. The pagan rituals seem to be as they might have been as are Julian’s administration of government and overseeing tax collection, participating in “campus� life in Athens, running an army, conquering cities and observing the hypocrisy of those in, and those seeking, power.

As a youth Gore Vidal read classics to his blind grandfather, Thomas Gore, who was a Senator from Oklahoma. The young Gore also served as his guide in the Senate. From these early experiences Vidal clearly formed ideas about ancient life and the timeless practice of politics. This is undoubtedly gave him the understanding and vision to create Julian's world in a way that makes this book a masterpiece.

This is not a light read. I highly recommend it for readers of historical fiction who want more than a good story.
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My previous review:

I didn't think Vidal's "Burr" could be topped, but this earlier novel of Vidal's is even more extraordinary.

Vidal creates a memoir by the Emperor Julian and presents it with the commentary of two friends. This novelization gives the reader a good understanding of the social and political dynamics of this often neglected period of history.

I expect that the scholarship is as accurate as the critics contend which makes this book not just fiction, but literature, and a major achievement for its author.

The book begins with Julian's sheltered childhood as the nephew of the Emperor, who is always in fear that the males in his bloodline would rise up against him. The uncle, claiming to be a Christian, has killed Julian's father and later his brother along with many more. Seeds of doubt of this new religion were planted in Julian's mind early on.

Some have commented that the book is hard on Christianity, but it shows how much the religion spread in the early days not just through missionary work, but also through politics and violence. It gives an equal number of swipes at the "old" religion. Julian's sacrifices are almost comedies (i.e. one bull had a damaged liver - an ominous sign, Julian spoke at the end of the ceremony negating its meaning so a healthy bull was brought in) as are Julian's looking for signs before battle.

For anyone interested in historical fiction this is an engrossing read.