Gore Vidal (3 October 1925 – 31 July 2012) was a celebrated writer, essayist, commentator and actor. But he was also famous for his waspish wit and irony. The man who said "whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies", was noted for his literary and political feuds.

TRUMAN CAPOTE

Gore Vidal made no secret that he detested the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood, saying once: "Capote I truly loathed. The way you might loathe an animal. A filthy animal that has found its way into the house."

When asked "What was Capote doing that you didn't like?" Vidal shouted: "Lying! The one thing I hate most on this earth. Which is why I do not have a friendly time with journalists." He called Capote's death "a good career move" and added "Every generation gets the Tiny Tim it deserves."