Truman capote
Early Life
Truman Capote was born originally to the name Truman Streckfus Persons on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Capote's parents, Lillie Mae and Arch, were neglectful of their son, often leaving him in that care of relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. It was when he was a young boy in Monroeville that he met his lifelong friend Nelle Harper Lee. In 1932 Capote's parents got a divorce and his mother got custody leaving him to move away from Lee and to New York with his stepfather Joe Capote.
After the move his mother changed her name to Nina and bullied her son for not being like the other boys and being more effeminate. His stepfather supported Capote, though Capote didn't acknowledge the support at the time. He was adopted by his stepfather and his name was changed to Truman Garcia capote in 1935.
From 1933 to 1936 Capote attended a private boys' school in Manhattan and did well in classes he liked and paid no attention to the classes that he didn't. Capote attracted some of his classmates and was appreciated for his gift for storytelling and being an entertainer. His mother though wished her son was more masculine and so from 1936 to 1937 forced him to attend a military academy where he was picked on by the other cadets.
In 1939 Capote moved to Greenwich, Connecticut and started attending Greenwich High School. His new friends, including Phoebe Pierce, often drank, smoked, and attended nearby clubs, including some of the most popular nightspots including the Café Society in New York City.
Capote moved back to Manhattan in 1942 and attended the Franklin School where he had to repeat the 12th grade as his home life had become more unstable when his mother started drinking more. Also, instead of doing his school work Capote went out to clubs where he befriended the daughter of Eugene O'Neill, a play write, and Gloria Vanderbilt, and heiress, Oona O'Neill.
Truman Capote was born originally to the name Truman Streckfus Persons on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Capote's parents, Lillie Mae and Arch, were neglectful of their son, often leaving him in that care of relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. It was when he was a young boy in Monroeville that he met his lifelong friend Nelle Harper Lee. In 1932 Capote's parents got a divorce and his mother got custody leaving him to move away from Lee and to New York with his stepfather Joe Capote.
After the move his mother changed her name to Nina and bullied her son for not being like the other boys and being more effeminate. His stepfather supported Capote, though Capote didn't acknowledge the support at the time. He was adopted by his stepfather and his name was changed to Truman Garcia capote in 1935.
From 1933 to 1936 Capote attended a private boys' school in Manhattan and did well in classes he liked and paid no attention to the classes that he didn't. Capote attracted some of his classmates and was appreciated for his gift for storytelling and being an entertainer. His mother though wished her son was more masculine and so from 1936 to 1937 forced him to attend a military academy where he was picked on by the other cadets.
In 1939 Capote moved to Greenwich, Connecticut and started attending Greenwich High School. His new friends, including Phoebe Pierce, often drank, smoked, and attended nearby clubs, including some of the most popular nightspots including the Café Society in New York City.
Capote moved back to Manhattan in 1942 and attended the Franklin School where he had to repeat the 12th grade as his home life had become more unstable when his mother started drinking more. Also, instead of doing his school work Capote went out to clubs where he befriended the daughter of Eugene O'Neill, a play write, and Gloria Vanderbilt, and heiress, Oona O'Neill.
Early Works
While working as a paperboy for The New Yorker Capote was constantly trying to get his storied published in the notable magazine. Then Capote left the magazine to become a full time writer. He began working on a novel called Summer Crossing, but stopped and began working on other works. Most of Capote's fame came from his short stories. In 1945 his short story "Miriam" was published in the Mademoiselle.
Capote also befriended the assistant of the editor of the paper. The assistant, Rita Smith, was the sister of Carson McCullers, a famous southern author, whom helped him with his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms published in 1948. McCullers then helped Capote get into a writer's colony called Yaddo in New York. Capote connected with a literary scholar named Newton Arvin and the two fell in love. Later that year Capote won the O. Henry Award for "Miriam."
While working as a paperboy for The New Yorker Capote was constantly trying to get his storied published in the notable magazine. Then Capote left the magazine to become a full time writer. He began working on a novel called Summer Crossing, but stopped and began working on other works. Most of Capote's fame came from his short stories. In 1945 his short story "Miriam" was published in the Mademoiselle.
Capote also befriended the assistant of the editor of the paper. The assistant, Rita Smith, was the sister of Carson McCullers, a famous southern author, whom helped him with his first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms published in 1948. McCullers then helped Capote get into a writer's colony called Yaddo in New York. Capote connected with a literary scholar named Newton Arvin and the two fell in love. Later that year Capote won the O. Henry Award for "Miriam."
Later Life and Career
Capote's first book received mixed reviews, but it did sell fairly well.
Capote and Arvin were not meant to be, but in late 1948 Capote found love in the form of Jack Dunphy, another author. He and Dunphy traveled a lot in the early years of their relationship while both working on their own projects.
In 1949 Capote published a collection of short stories called A Tree of Light. Then in 1950 he published his travel essays under the name Local Color. His second novel, called The Grass Harp, was published in 1951. Saint Subber, a Broadway producer asked Capote to make his novel into a comedy fit for the stage which opened in March of 1952, though it was fairly unpopular.
In 1953 Capote was asked to do some screenplay writing. He wrote Stazione Termini, known as Indiscretion of an American Wife in the U.S., CApote's best screenplay was The Innocents in 1961 based on Henry James' book The Turn of the Screw.
Capote was very much a part of the elite circles that had previously fascinated him. He was invited to yacht parties, and to various estates. This lifestyle inspired one of his novels called Answered Prayers.
Though his previous Broadway production didn't end well Capote still wrote a musical based on his short story "House of Flowers," and it was performed on Broadway in 1954. This musical didn't get enough attention to last and after 165 shows it too closed.
In 1958 Capote wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book told the story of the Holly Golightly, a New York Party girl. A few years later the movie came out starring Audrey Hepburn. Capote wanted it to be Marilyn Monroe.
Capote's first book received mixed reviews, but it did sell fairly well.
Capote and Arvin were not meant to be, but in late 1948 Capote found love in the form of Jack Dunphy, another author. He and Dunphy traveled a lot in the early years of their relationship while both working on their own projects.
In 1949 Capote published a collection of short stories called A Tree of Light. Then in 1950 he published his travel essays under the name Local Color. His second novel, called The Grass Harp, was published in 1951. Saint Subber, a Broadway producer asked Capote to make his novel into a comedy fit for the stage which opened in March of 1952, though it was fairly unpopular.
In 1953 Capote was asked to do some screenplay writing. He wrote Stazione Termini, known as Indiscretion of an American Wife in the U.S., CApote's best screenplay was The Innocents in 1961 based on Henry James' book The Turn of the Screw.
Capote was very much a part of the elite circles that had previously fascinated him. He was invited to yacht parties, and to various estates. This lifestyle inspired one of his novels called Answered Prayers.
Though his previous Broadway production didn't end well Capote still wrote a musical based on his short story "House of Flowers," and it was performed on Broadway in 1954. This musical didn't get enough attention to last and after 165 shows it too closed.
In 1958 Capote wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book told the story of the Holly Golightly, a New York Party girl. A few years later the movie came out starring Audrey Hepburn. Capote wanted it to be Marilyn Monroe.
In Cold Blood
Capote's In Cold Blood had its beginnings as an article for The New Yorker. Reunited with his childhood friend, Harper Lee, Capote went to Kansas to learn about the murder of the Clutter family. Capote had a tough time getting the townspeople to trust him as he was homosexual. While Capote and Lee were in Kansas the suspected murderers Perry Smith and Richard Hickok were caught and brought to Kansas. Lee and Capote never got to interview the suspects but Capote sent letters to the suspects to get their side of the story. The article turned into a non-fiction book by the name of In Cold Blood which was originally a four section installment in The New Yorker.
The murder trial was in March of 1960. Though Smith and Hickok hoped that Capote would help get them off of death row, but the book's title indicated that the murder was indeed premeditated. Smith and Hickok were put to death on April 14, 1965. Upon their request Capote went to see the hanging.
While Capote considers his book to be totally unbiased he did have a friendship with one of the murderers, Perry Smith.
After the publishing of the book Capote was affected psychologically. Already previously prone to drink, Capote was drinking more and abusing substances at increasing rates over the years.
Capote's In Cold Blood had its beginnings as an article for The New Yorker. Reunited with his childhood friend, Harper Lee, Capote went to Kansas to learn about the murder of the Clutter family. Capote had a tough time getting the townspeople to trust him as he was homosexual. While Capote and Lee were in Kansas the suspected murderers Perry Smith and Richard Hickok were caught and brought to Kansas. Lee and Capote never got to interview the suspects but Capote sent letters to the suspects to get their side of the story. The article turned into a non-fiction book by the name of In Cold Blood which was originally a four section installment in The New Yorker.
The murder trial was in March of 1960. Though Smith and Hickok hoped that Capote would help get them off of death row, but the book's title indicated that the murder was indeed premeditated. Smith and Hickok were put to death on April 14, 1965. Upon their request Capote went to see the hanging.
While Capote considers his book to be totally unbiased he did have a friendship with one of the murderers, Perry Smith.
After the publishing of the book Capote was affected psychologically. Already previously prone to drink, Capote was drinking more and abusing substances at increasing rates over the years.
Final Years
While Capote was struggling internally he still had a huge gathering of stars, friends, and acclaimed authors in his Black and White Ball. Men had to dress as if for a black tie event, women had to wear an either white or black dress, and all had to wear a mask.
A few years later Capote lost almost all of his socialite friends. He had had a chapter of his book Answered Prayers published in Esquire. The chapter, "La Cote Basque," brought many of his friends secrets to light through a light covering of fiction. In the late 1970s Capote had left the socialite parties behind him in favor of the New York party scene in Studio 54.
By this time Jack Dunphy and Capote had grown apart as a couple but stayed friends. Capote had relations with much younger men, though it had a bad affect on his mental and physical health. Through all of this Capote was struggling with addiction and attended rehab many times.
Capote died on August 25, 1984 in his friend Joanne Carson's house in Los Angeles.
While Capote was struggling internally he still had a huge gathering of stars, friends, and acclaimed authors in his Black and White Ball. Men had to dress as if for a black tie event, women had to wear an either white or black dress, and all had to wear a mask.
A few years later Capote lost almost all of his socialite friends. He had had a chapter of his book Answered Prayers published in Esquire. The chapter, "La Cote Basque," brought many of his friends secrets to light through a light covering of fiction. In the late 1970s Capote had left the socialite parties behind him in favor of the New York party scene in Studio 54.
By this time Jack Dunphy and Capote had grown apart as a couple but stayed friends. Capote had relations with much younger men, though it had a bad affect on his mental and physical health. Through all of this Capote was struggling with addiction and attended rehab many times.
Capote died on August 25, 1984 in his friend Joanne Carson's house in Los Angeles.