Literary fights, whether they occur between authors, critics, or within the literary community, have often captured public attention due to their drama and intrigue. Here are some of the most famous literary fights in history
Norman Mailer vs. Gore Vidal: One of the most infamous literary feuds occurred between Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal. The animosity between the two writers culminated in a physical altercation during a live television debate in 1971. Vidal famously referred to Mailer as a “crypto-Nazi,” and Mailer responded by headbutting him.
Ernest Hemingway vs. William Faulkner: Hemingway and Faulkner, two giants of American literature, had a famously antagonistic relationship. They criticized each other’s writing styles and publicly sparred over their literary merits. Hemingway once famously quipped that Faulkner “has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
Truman Capote vs. Jack Kerouac: Capote and Kerouac were both prominent figures in the literary scene of the 1950s and ’60s, but they had vastly different writing styles and personalities. Capote dismissed Kerouac’s work as “typing” and criticized the Beat Generation, while Kerouac derided Capote as a “goddamn phony.”
Mark Twain vs. James Fenimore Cooper: Mark Twain was notoriously critical of James Fenimore Cooper’s novels, particularly “The Deerslayer” and “The Pathfinder.” Twain ridiculed Cooper’s writing style, plot inconsistencies, and portrayal of Native Americans, famously declaring that Cooper’s “literary offenses” were “unforgivable.”
Edgar Allan Poe vs. Rufus Griswold: The feud between Poe and Griswold, Poe’s literary executor, escalated into a posthumous battle after Poe’s death. Griswold published a scathing obituary and a biography that portrayed Poe in a negative light, leading to a tarnished reputation for Poe that persisted for years.
These literary fights not only entertained the public but also shed light on the competitive and sometimes combative nature of the literary world. They continue to be remembered and studied as part of literary history.