The Art of the Feud

Every profession has its jealousies. Nowhere can this be truer than in the literary world, where back-stabbing is epidemic. New York’s lit Establishment is rocking and rolling with the feud between the genius, Norman Mailer, and the talent, John Richardson. (You do recall that George Gershwin once pointed to the upper berth in a train and told Oscar Levant to climb up. “Why?” asked Oscar. “That’s the difference between talent and genius,” said George, settling himself into the lower berth.) Well, anyway, it seems that Norman decided to write a book for Doubleday’s Nan Talese, and he has been working away on a title, “Pablo and Fernande.” The book is all about the first of the great painter Pablo Picasso’s many serious affairs--after about seven years he usually tired of each woman. In his work, Norman quoted a lot from John Richardson’s massive and comprehensive work-in-progress, “A Life of Picasso,” which has already had one volume published. Then Norman wrote John asking for permission to use his definitive work for background, giving full credit. Richardson roared “No!” And charges of “plagiarism” have filled the ink-stained laptop air.

Editor Talese says she thinks a “yes” from Richardson would have been in his own best interest. “I believe Norman’s book would have sent people to read further in John’s books.” However, Mailer is busy removing all traces of Richardson’s references and searching out his own truths. I don’t see how anyone could charge one of the greatest writers in America with plagiarism when he had courteously asked permission and offered full credit. Go figure.

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The producers of Michael J. Fox’s coming film, “Greed,” already have Kirk Douglas signed up to play a crotchety old millionaire whose family is impatient for him to pass on to a better life. Now the honchos at Universal want Michael Douglas for a “Greed” cameo, playing Fox’s dad. It could happen.