Styron is one of those venerated names I'd never read, and this novel did not disappoint, even though it was not his most well regarded. 

It's radical to the point of anarchist throughout much of it, shockingly attacking a corrupt, moribund, and empty American culture at every turn. The father of a main character saw this rootless generation of the 50s--the Boomers!--as a symptom of the decline of the West, and decried everything from land development and PR firms, to rich people and the sociopaths who served in the military. He was also no fan of emerging technology and the homogenization of Europe by American culture, not to mention the loss of green space to concrete.

It's a novel about Class, and often evokes Patricia Highsmith's brilliant Ripley novel, Mason the spoiled and disaffected rich kid who got into college solely based on his connections, while the other characters had to work hard for what little they had (and Mason declaring that Art is dead at every turn, though presciently seeing that Science is all that is left). There are real Italian fascists portrayed, though Luigi rightly recognizes the Dulles brothers as far bigger fascists. 

It's also a thriller of the highest order, with the tension building slowly and increasing throughout, with an ending that is a bit of a shock, without being a total surprise. It's a novel of ideas as well, with more happening in 100 pages than in any 350 page Millenial novel.