82 Years Ago, Robert Frost Kicked Off A Petty Feud With A Future Literary Darling

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Celebrity feuds are a tale as old as time. After all, Joan Crawford's legendary Hollywood feud with Bette Davis went down nearly a century ago. Yet, what might come as a surprise is the fact that two very famous writers found themselves in a feud 82 years ago. And this conflict was like something straight out of Hollywood — or should we say it was one for the books?

Poet and author Robert Frost is known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning work and many enduring quotes, including, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference," "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in," and countless other. 

In the 1920s, Frost co-founded the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. In 1944, a 20-year-old copyboy at The New Yorker, who hoped to one day be a successful writer, attended the conference. The aspiring writer was none other than Truman Capote, who would one day become famous for penning "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "In Cold Blood," and others. Capote attended the conference reluctantly, describing the event as a "glob of all these old Midwestern ladies and librarians and whatnot, oohing and ahhing and carrying on" (via The Vintage News). Yet, when Frost heard the conference attendee intended to skip his poetry reading, he was reportedly angry. This prompted Capote to attend. Surprisingly, though, things only got worse from there.

Truman Capote attended Robert Frost's poetry reading, after all — but not for long. According to one journalist's account, Capote appeared to be slumped over in the audience after bending down to scratch his leg and having a stiff neck. He then reportedly proceeded to make an attempt to discreetly run out of the room. Yet, this move apparently wasn't so discreet. 

Frost spotted him, stopped reading his poem, and threw the book straight at Capote. Then, based on Capote's own explanation, recounted in the book "Conversations with Capote," Frost said, "If that's the way The New Yorker feels about my poetry, I won't go on reading," and left. This was surely a surprising reaction for everyone in attendance, but Frost's irritation about the situation didn't end there. He reportedly sent a letter to The New Yorker's editor-in-chief complaining about Capote. Rumor has it Capote was fired, but according to him, he was simply asked to explain himself. And since he didn't actually attend the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference on behalf of The New Yorker, Capote kept his job. 

With regard to Frost, Capote said, "Oh, he was a very mean man. Everybody that ever knew him at all will tell you that." Yet, Frost's apparent suspicions about Capote were correct, since he added, "I never liked Robert Frost's poetry." So, from the sound of it, this feud never exactly ended.