Truman Capote

1
TrumanCapote

• Miriam

2
Childhood

• B. 1924, New Orleans, LA
• Mom courntry girl eager to escape Monroeville,
  AL (married at 16)
• Dad spendthrift, seeking easy money
• Divorced 1928

3
Monroeville, AL

• Grew up in Monroeville
• Friends with Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• 30s 40s lived w/Sook, distant cousin, closest
  thing to family he had (_at_60 yrs)
• Mom out and about looking for a husband and money
  (self absorbed)

4
New York

• Mom finally marry businessman
• adopted Truman, move to New York

5
Truman, The Man

• IQ 215
• Short, 53
• High voice w/lisp
• Openly (always) homosexual
• Craved fame/society life

6
Truman, The Writer

• 1945, Miriam
• 1946, Shut a Final Doorwon O.Henry award
• 1948, Other Voices, Other Rooms controversial

7

• 1950, Asphalt Jungle, Marilyn Monroe
• 1951, The Grass Harp 1996, movie
• 1954, Beat the Devil, Humphrey Bogart
• 1958, Breakfast at Tiffanys, Audrey Hepborn,
  George Peppard
• 1965, In Cold Blood, true crime

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Truman, Post Cold Blood

• Socialite
• jet set
• New York celebrity
• 60s 70s drugs, alcohol (denied)
• Friends w/Andy Warhol, partied Studio 54
• 80s, moved to West Coast, recluse
• Died, 1984

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A Tortured Artist?

• What qualities about Capotes life would
  contribute to his writing dark romantic
  narratives?
• Who was more tortured, Poe or Capote?