Did Gore Vidal father a Conch love-child?
"Possibly," he says, in this recent interview from The Independent.
Will they re-unite this January, when Vidal joins us for Historical Fiction and The Search for Truth? It seems, well, unlikely:
"There are rumours that you have a daughter from a relationship with a woman living in Key West, Florida [in the 1950s]; are they true?"
"Possibly. I don't believe so. The father was either me or a German photographer. I believe the mother is dead. The child was a girl. Every Christmas, I would receive a picture of them all around the tree, and there's the little girl, looking like me. I could have a daughter, yes."
"Have you tried to contact her?"
"No. Why would I?"
"Because you might have a sense of responsibility, which, in the age of DNA..."
"I sent her mother money for an abortion. Which she used to go to Detroit, where she found a rich man."
Photograph of Vidal ca. 1945 by Carl Van Vechten. It is in the public domain.
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LITTORAL is the year-round online voice of the Key West Literary Seminar. We write about literature, Key West, and the authors who have been or will be part of our annual Seminar. Throughout the year on LITTORAL, you'll find podcasts from our growing audio archives, interviews and book reviews, news about the Seminar, links, commentary, and arcana.
Arlo Haskell is editor-in-chief. Send email to arlohaskell [at] gmail [dot] com.
Gore Vidal is someone whose essays I really admire. I have wanted to meet him or hear him for decades. Does anyone know where and when he will be speaking in Key West and whether it is possible to buy a ticket? I would pay $1,000 to meet him.
Gore Vidal will be appearing during the first session of the Seminar which, alas, is sold out. However, there are often cancellations, and we expect a spot or two will become available. Email us at mail@keywestliteraryseminar.org to add your name to a waiting list; or call 888-293-9291