Abstract
THIS PIECE ORIGINATED IN A COMMISSION BY THE DAILY MAIL, WHICH THEN DROPPED IT. VANITY FAIR COMMISSIONED VIDAL TO UPDATE AND ELABORATE. AFTER A THREE-MONTH DELAY THAT MAGAZINE ALSO DROPPED IT. IT WAS THEN OFFERED TO SEVERAL UK NEWSPAPERS, WHO TURNED IT DOWN. IT APPEARED LAST YEAR IN ITALY IN A COLLECTION OF VIDAL'S ESSAYS ENTITLED LA FINE DELLA LIBERTÀ: VERSO UN NUOVO TOTALITARISMO? THIS IS ITS FIRST PUBLICATION IN ENGLISH