Knowra Truman Capote Truman Capote Truman Capote was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist whose works include Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood . He helped popularize literary nonfiction through his account of a Kansas murder case.
In Cold Blood : Truman Capote’s 1966 nonfiction novel recounting the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Kansas and their aftermath. This account of the Clutter murders became Capote’s most influential work of literary nonfiction.
Literary journalism : Journalism that uses literary techniques such as scene, characterization, and narrative structure while reporting factual events. Capote’s nonfiction combines reported events with techniques associated with novels.
New Orleans : A Louisiana port city known for its distinctive cultural traditions, architecture, and history. Capote was born in New Orleans in 1924.
Nelle Harper Lee : The full name of Harper Lee, the American novelist who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee accompanied Capote during his early reporting in Kansas and helped him establish rapport with residents.
Swans (socialites) : A group of wealthy and prominent women who formed part of New York high society in the mid-twentieth century. Capote’s friendships with these women inspired his social writing and later strained when he exposed their secrets.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s : Truman Capote’s 1958 novella about Holly Golightly, an unconventional young woman living in New York City. Its creation of Holly Golightly shows Capote’s talent for memorable characters and urban settings.
New Journalism : A style of journalism, prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, that uses literary techniques to tell reported stories. Capote’s work is often associated with the movement, though its label and boundaries remain debated.
Monroeville, Alabama : A town in southern Alabama that became a setting for works by several American writers. Capote spent part of his childhood in Monroeville, where he formed a close friendship with Harper Lee.
Perry Smith : One of the two men convicted of murdering the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, in 1959. Capote’s extensive interviews with Smith informed the emotional center of In Cold Blood.
Answered Prayers : Truman Capote’s unfinished novel, portions of which appeared in Esquire magazine in 1975 and 1976. Its publication of thinly disguised social confidences ruptured Capote’s relationships with several friends.
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