Truman Capote

Truman Capote[1†]

Truman Garcia Capote[1†][2†], born as Truman Streckfus Persons[1†][2†], was an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor[1†][2†]. He was born on September 30, 1924, in New Orleans, Louisiana[1†][2†][3†], and passed away on August 25, 1984, in Los Angeles, California[1†][2†]. Capote’s work extended the Southern Gothic tradition, though he later developed a more journalistic approach[1†][2†]. His early writing has been praised as literary classics, including the novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1958) and the true crime novel “In Cold Blood” (1966), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel"[1†][2†]. His works have been adapted into more than 20 films and television dramas[1†].

Early Years and Education

Truman Capote, originally named Truman Streckfus Persons, was born on September 30, 1924, in New Orleans, Louisiana[2†][4†]. His parents divorced when he was young, and he spent his early years with various elderly relatives in small towns in Louisiana and Alabama[2†]. His mother later remarried Joseph Garcia Capote, and Truman adopted his stepfather’s surname[2†][4†].

Capote’s education began in private schools[2†]. Eventually, he joined his mother and stepfather in Millbrook, Connecticut, where he completed his secondary education at Greenwich High School[2†]. During his time in Greenwich, Capote began to write for the school’s literary journal and the school newspaper[2†][4†]. His family moved back to New York City in 1942, and he attended the Franklin School (now the Dwight School), completing his graduation a year later[2†][4†].

Capote’s early life and education significantly influenced his writing. He drew on his childhood experiences for many of his early works of fiction[2†]. Despite the challenges of his early life, Capote discovered his calling as a writer by the time he was eight years old[2†], and he honed his writing ability throughout his childhood[2†].

Career Development and Achievements

Truman Capote’s career began in 1943 when he was employed at ‘The New Yorker’ as a copyboy for two years[4†]. His early writing extended the Southern Gothic tradition, though he later developed a more journalistic approach[4†][2†][5†]. His first haunting story, “Miriam,” won early recognition for him in 1945[4†][6†]. The following year it won the O. Henry Memorial Award, the first of four such awards Capote was to receive[4†][2†].

His first published novel, “Other Voices, Other Rooms” (1948), was acclaimed as the work of a young writer of great promise[4†][2†]. The book is a sensitive, partly autobiographical portrayal of a boy’s search for his father and his own sexual identity through a nightmarishly decadent Southern world[4†][2†]. The short story “Shut a Final Door” (O. Henry Award, 1946) and other tales of loveless and isolated individuals were collected in “A Tree of Night, and Other Stories” (1949)[4†][2†].

The quasi-autobiographical novel “The Grass Harp” (1951) is a story of nonconforming innocents who temporarily retire from life to a tree house, returning renewed to the real world[4†][2†]. His novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1958) and the true crime novel “In Cold Blood” (1966), which he labeled a “non-fiction novel,” remain his best-known work[4†][2†][5†]. Capote spent six years writing “In Cold Blood,” aided by his lifelong friend Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1960)[4†][2†].

Truman Capote won the O. Henry Memorial Award for his short stories “Miriam,” “Shut a Final Door,” and “The House of Flowers.” He also received, with William Archibald, the 1962 Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay for “The Innocents” and the 1966 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime for his nonfiction novel "In Cold Blood"[4†][2†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Truman Capote’s literary career spanned various genres, including novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction. His works have been praised as literary classics and have been adapted into more than 20 films and television dramas[1†][7†].

• Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948)[1†][7†]: This was Capote’s first published novel. The critical success of his short story “Miriam” (1945) attracted the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf, resulting in a contract to write this novel[1†].
• The Grass Harp (1951)[1†][7†]: This novel is one of Capote’s best works and showcases his storytelling ability[1†][6†].
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958)[1†][7†]: This novella is one of Capote’s most well-known works. It inspired an iconic film adaptation by the same name starring Audrey Hepburn[1†][7†].
• In Cold Blood (1966)[1†][7†]: This true crime novel, which Capote labeled a “non-fiction novel,” is about a sensational murder case. Capote got to know the criminals accused of the crime while visiting them in jail[1†][7†]. It was made into a movie and later a TV series[1†][7†].
• Answered Prayers (1986)[1†][2†]: This novel was published posthumously and caused a sensation due to its content[1†][2†].
• Summer Crossing (2005)[1†][7†]: This novel was published posthumously and is considered one of Capote’s significant works[1†][7†].

Capote’s writing often explored themes of loneliness, crime, psychological manipulation, and sexuality[1†][6†]. His unique style and storytelling ability have left a lasting impact on American literature[1†][7†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Truman Capote’s writing is noted for its lucidity and elegance[8†]. His works often explore themes of loneliness, crime, psychological manipulation, and sexuality[8†][9†]. His words are meticulously chosen for their evocative power, and, at their best, they create highly charged images and symbols[8†][9†].

Capote’s most significant contribution to literature is arguably his invention of the “nonfiction novel” genre with "In Cold Blood"[8†]. This work is a documented recreation of the murder of a family in Kansas[8†]. Capote’s insistence on the originality of his “nonfiction novel” enhanced its popular success but also misdirected criticism of the work[8†].

His early works, such as “Other Voices, Other Rooms” and “The Grass Harp,” showcase his storytelling ability[8†][10†]. His novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” has become a cultural icon, inspiring an iconic film adaptation[8†][10†].

However, Capote’s later works, such as “Answered Prayers,” caused a social scandal with its gossipy revelations[8†]. Some critics argue that Capote’s literary output after “In Cold Blood” demonstrates that celebrity—and especially his practice of cultivating his own celebrity—damaged his integrity as an artist[8†].

Despite the controversies, Capote’s impact on American literature is undeniable. He was one of the United States’ leading post-World War II writers[8†]. His unique style and storytelling ability have left a lasting impact on American literature[8†][10†].

Personal Life

Truman Capote’s personal life was as colorful as his literary works. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1924, Capote was abandoned by his mother and raised by his elderly aunts and cousins in Monroeville, Alabama[11†][12†]. His parents divorced when he was young, and his childhood was marked by family upheavals and frequent moves[11†][12†]. He found solace early on by identifying himself as a writer[11†][12†].

Capote had a compulsive desire for fame, which he believed originated with his mother, a jealous alcoholic, and his father, a bright, charlatan lawyer who abandoned the family when Capote was three, leaving him in the care of his three aunts, two of whom were lesbians[11†][13†]. He formed a fast bond with his mother’s distant relative, Nanny Rumbley Faulk, whom Truman called "Sook"[11†][1†]. In Monroeville, Capote was a neighbor and friend of Harper Lee, who would also go on to become an acclaimed author and a lifelong friend of Capote’s[11†][1†].

As a lonely child, Capote taught himself to read and write before he entered his first year of school[11†][1†][11†]. He was often seen at age five carrying his dictionary and notepad, and began writing fiction at age 11[11†][1†]. He was given the nickname “Bulldog” around this age[11†][1†].

Capote’s personal life was also marked by his open homosexuality. His long-term partner was Jack Dunphy, a fellow writer[11†][1†]. Their relationship, which began in 1948, lasted until Capote’s death in 1984[11†][1†].

The aftermath of the publication of “La Côte Basque” is said to have pushed Truman Capote to new levels of drug abuse and alcoholism, mainly because he claimed to have not anticipated the backlash it would cause in his personal life[11†][1†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Truman Capote left an indelible mark on the literary world. His distinctive prose, which blended fiction and non-fiction, made him a pioneer of literary journalism[14†]. His works, particularly “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “In Cold Blood”, remain reliably in print and have been adapted into more than 20 films and television dramas[14†][1†][15†][16†]. These two disparate works display the flip sides of Capote: the celebrated, fabulous Holly Golightly who achieved acclaim and conquered the New York social scene, and the outsider Perry Smith, the angry small-town boy with the troubled past[14†][16†].

Capote’s openness about his homosexuality and his encouragement for openness in others contributed to the gay rights movement, even though he was not a prominent activist[14†]. His life and works continue to inspire and influence writers and readers alike[14†].

Despite his personal struggles with drug abuse and alcoholism, Capote’s legacy as a writer remains strong[14†][1†]. His life serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of fame, but his enduring works stand as a testament to his immense talent[14†][15†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Truman Streckfus Persons[2†][1†]
• Born: September 30, 1924, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.[2†][1†]
• Died: August 25, 1984, Los Angeles, California, U.S. (aged 59)[2†][1†]
• Nationality: American[2†][1†]
• Occupation: Novelist, playwright, screenwriter, actor[2†][1†]
• Notable Works: “Other Voices, Other Rooms” (1948), “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1958), “In Cold Blood” (1966)[2†][1†]

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Truman Capote [website] - link
2. Britannica - Truman Capote: American author [website] - link
3. ThoughtCo - Biography of Truman Capote, American Novelist [website] - link
4. The Famous People - Truman Capote Biography [website] - link
5. Vaia - Truman Capote: Novels, Career & Education [website] - link
6. Literary Devices - Truman Capote [website] - link
7. Book Series In Order - Truman Capote [website] - link
8. eNotes - Truman Capote Analysis [website] - link
9. eNotes - Truman Capote Short Fiction Analysis [website] - link
10. Roger Ebert - Capote movie review & film summary (2005) [website] - link
11. PBS - American Masters - Truman Capote - Truman Capote Biography [website] - link
12. SparkNotes - Truman Capote Biography, Works, and Quotes [website] - link
13. Literary Hub - What Kind of Personality Type Was Truman Capote? ‹ Literary Hub [website] - link
14. History Hit - The Life and Times of Truman Capote: 10 Facts About the Literary Icon [website] - link
15. The National Endowment for the Humanities - Tru Life: How Truman Capote Became a Cautionary Tale of Celebrity Culture [website] - link
16. MTV News - Rewind: Truman Capote's Screen Legacy [website] - link