Context
Author Background:
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Family
Truman Streckfus Persons was born on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. However, both of his parents were from Alabama, so he visited there often. Although his parents Arch Persons and Lillie Mae were both well-educated, Capote felt a sense of insecurity because he was often neglected. Soon after, his mother divorced and married a rich Cuban named Joe Capote. For a while, Truman lived with his relatives in Alabama, while his mother lived with his step-father in New York. However, when Truman was nine years old, his mother took him with her to New York. In 1935, Truman's step-father Joe Capote adopted Truman and his name changed to Truman Garcia Capote. Soon after Truman Capote's mother committed suicide, because she found out that Joe embezzled money from a company. For this reason, Capote felt abandoned at a young age without having even one parent to rely on (Encyclopedia of Alabama).
Early Life
When Truman Capote was with his relatives in Monroeville, Alabama, Capote befriended Harper Lee, a tomboy. Harper Lee is said to have greatly influenced the writings of Truman Capote. In Monroeville, Capote attended Greenwich High School, where he started smoking and drinking. Soon after, he moved to New York and attended Franklin School, where he was hired as a copy person at The New Yorker magazine. There he tried to publish a few short stories, but he was unfortunate and got fired. Later on, in 1945, Capote received the O. Henry Memorial Award and much recognition for his short story "Miriam" (Encyclopedia Britannica). In his early twenties, Truman Capote started to work on a few novels such as Summer Crossing and Other Voices, Other Rooms. The latter novel brought him much praise and during this time Capote started a relationship with Jack Dunphy, an author and a dancer (Encyclopedia of Alabama).
Truman Streckfus Persons was born on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. However, both of his parents were from Alabama, so he visited there often. Although his parents Arch Persons and Lillie Mae were both well-educated, Capote felt a sense of insecurity because he was often neglected. Soon after, his mother divorced and married a rich Cuban named Joe Capote. For a while, Truman lived with his relatives in Alabama, while his mother lived with his step-father in New York. However, when Truman was nine years old, his mother took him with her to New York. In 1935, Truman's step-father Joe Capote adopted Truman and his name changed to Truman Garcia Capote. Soon after Truman Capote's mother committed suicide, because she found out that Joe embezzled money from a company. For this reason, Capote felt abandoned at a young age without having even one parent to rely on (Encyclopedia of Alabama).
Early Life
When Truman Capote was with his relatives in Monroeville, Alabama, Capote befriended Harper Lee, a tomboy. Harper Lee is said to have greatly influenced the writings of Truman Capote. In Monroeville, Capote attended Greenwich High School, where he started smoking and drinking. Soon after, he moved to New York and attended Franklin School, where he was hired as a copy person at The New Yorker magazine. There he tried to publish a few short stories, but he was unfortunate and got fired. Later on, in 1945, Capote received the O. Henry Memorial Award and much recognition for his short story "Miriam" (Encyclopedia Britannica). In his early twenties, Truman Capote started to work on a few novels such as Summer Crossing and Other Voices, Other Rooms. The latter novel brought him much praise and during this time Capote started a relationship with Jack Dunphy, an author and a dancer (Encyclopedia of Alabama).
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Later Life
Truman Capote enjoyed socializing with famous people, so he became friends with President John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacqueline Kennedy. In the late 1940’s Truman Capote published more short stories which included A Tree of Night, Local Color, and The Muses Are Heard. However in 1958, he published a well praised novel called Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 1959, Truman Capote got interested in non-fiction writing, after reading a newspaper article on the Clutter family (Encyclopedia.com). With the help of Harper Lee, he went to Kansas to thoroughly investigate this murder. After spending much time with the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, Capote began to feel sympathetic towards them. Capote even felt very upset when he witnessed the execution of Hickock and Smith. In 1965, Capote published In Cold Blood covering the murders of the Clutter family. This novel became a huge hit in his career and earned him much money. Although Capote's career was at a peak, he was mentally suffering from depression, due to excessive consumption of alcohol. His later works included Answered Prayers, published in 1975, which talked about the negative aspects of life. Truman Capote passed away on August 25, 1984, after suffering much mental pain (Encyclopedia Alabama).
Truman Capote enjoyed socializing with famous people, so he became friends with President John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacqueline Kennedy. In the late 1940’s Truman Capote published more short stories which included A Tree of Night, Local Color, and The Muses Are Heard. However in 1958, he published a well praised novel called Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 1959, Truman Capote got interested in non-fiction writing, after reading a newspaper article on the Clutter family (Encyclopedia.com). With the help of Harper Lee, he went to Kansas to thoroughly investigate this murder. After spending much time with the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, Capote began to feel sympathetic towards them. Capote even felt very upset when he witnessed the execution of Hickock and Smith. In 1965, Capote published In Cold Blood covering the murders of the Clutter family. This novel became a huge hit in his career and earned him much money. Although Capote's career was at a peak, he was mentally suffering from depression, due to excessive consumption of alcohol. His later works included Answered Prayers, published in 1975, which talked about the negative aspects of life. Truman Capote passed away on August 25, 1984, after suffering much mental pain (Encyclopedia Alabama).
Historical Background:
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In 1959, Truman Capote read the New York Times and found a story on the Clutter family murder. That article was published on November 16, 1959. It stated that on November 15, a wealthy farmer, his wife, and his two children were found shot. The article included that Mr. Clutter was the founder of The Kansas Wheat Growers Association, and that President Eisenhower appointed him to the Federal Farm Credit Board (New York Times). After reading this issue, Truman Capote wanted to investigate, so he traveled to Holcomb, Kansas to find out more information regarding the murder.
Context citations:
McMillan, Norman. "EOA Links." Encyclopedia of Alabama: Truman Capote. The University of Alabama, 14 Mar. 2007. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Truman Capote (American Author)."Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.
"Truman Capote." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 20 Apr. 2014.
"Wealthy Farmer, 3 Of Family Slain." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 16 Nov. 1959. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Picture citations:
A Tree of Night and Other Stories. Digital image. Honey & Wax Booksellers. Honey & Wax Booksellers, n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.
Breakfast At Tiffany's. Digital image. Florence. Word Press, 3 Oct. 2011. Web. 30 May 2014.
Dean, Michelle. The Muses Are Heard. Digital image. Flavorwire. Word Press, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 30 May 2014.Greenwood. Capote Photos. Digital image. MTV. Viacom International, n.d. Web. 31 May 2014.
Hylton, Lynne. Murders. Digital image. Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2014.
Jones, Miracle. Truman Capote and Harper Lee. Digital image. The Fiction Circus. N.p., 1 June 2008. Web. 31 May 2014.
Other Voices, Other Rooms. Digital image. B & B Rare Books, LTD. B & B Rare Books, 2010. Web. 30 May 2014.