Besides U.S. history , Vidal also explored .
Besides U.S. history , Vidal also analyzed the history of the ancient world , specifically the Axial Age ( 800 -- 200 B.C. ) , with the novel Creation ( 1981 ) .
Besides U.S. history , Vidal also explored and analyzed the history of the ancient world , specifically the Axial Age ( 800 -- 200 B.C. ) , with the novel Creation ( 1981 ) .