Truman Capote’s initial interest in the Clutter murders began with his reading of a 300-word article in The New York Times, simply titled “Wealthy Farmer, 3 of Family Slain” on November 16, 1959. Capote, accompanied by his childhood friend Harper Lee, traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, where the murders had taken place. He had brought Lee, who’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) would garner her much fame, to help with interviewing townspeople and gathering the necessary information. With the initial intent of simply writing an extensive article on the towns reaction to the murders, Capote realized there was much more the story, and so began his most famous piece, In Cold Blood.
In the first couple of months, Lee helped Capote gain access to people of importance through their wives. Many citizens of Holcomb and Garden City were “put off” by Capote’s eccentricity and perceived homosexuality (his provocative dust cover picture on Other Voices, Other Rooms did not help) making it difficult from him to get interviews. The duo, and later Capote alone, interviewed most of Holcomb and any and everyone that was somehow involved with the case. He spent a large amount of time in Holcomb gathering almost 8,000 pages of research; however Capote did not take interview notes, relying rather on his 94% recall rate. Once Rich ard (Dick) Hickock and Perry Smith were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, Capote started a relationship with them, more so Perry than Dick. Much of the book’s dialogues between Dick and Perry were a result of Capote’s long interviews with Perry, who had become “platonic friends” (although there are rumors that there was a stronger association). After six years of researching, interviewing, and writing, In Cold Blood Part I was published in The New Yorker on September 25, 1965, just four months after Smith and Hickock’s April 14 execution. After being published in the magazine in four parts, Random House had the entire serial published in book form in 1966.
In Cold Blood was hailed by literary critics; Capote became more famous than ever before, thanks to his “non-fiction novel.” However, the book did have its critics. Many true “true crime” writers called Capote out, claiming his lack o f interview notes and his taking of a significant creative license made the book more a work of fiction and art. Having this in mind, one doubts the realism of the book. The piece being 100% true is of little real importance, in terms of literature, as it strives to give the reader a window into the mind and soul of a cold-blooded murderer. Fiction or non-fiction, In Cold Blood was Truman Capote’s masterpiece, giving us a glimpse into the criminal’s soul, one that is still relevant to this day.
Truman Capote’s initial interest in the Clutter murders began with his reading of a 300-word article in The New York Times, simply titled “Wealthy Farmer, 3 of Family Slain” on November 16, 1959. Capote, accompanied by his childhood friend Harper Lee, traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, where the murders had taken place. He had brought Lee, who’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) would garner her much fame, to help with interviewing townspeople and gathering the necessary information. With the initial intent of simply writing an extensive article on the towns reaction to the murders, Capote realized there was much more the story, and so began his most famous piece, In Cold Blood.
In the first couple of months, Lee helped Capote gain access to people of importance through their wives. Many citizens of Holcomb and Garden City were “put off” by Capote’s eccentricity and perceived homosexuality (his provocative dust cover picture on Other Voices, Other Rooms did not help) making it difficult from him to get interviews. The duo, and later Capote alone, interviewed most of Holcomb and any and everyone that was somehow involved with the case. He spent a large amount of time in Holcomb gathering almost 8,000 pages of research; however Capote did not take interview notes, relying rather on his 94% recall rate. Once Rich ard (Dick) Hickock and Perry Smith were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, Capote started a relationship with them, more so Perry than Dick. Much of the book’s dialogues between Dick and Perry were a result of Capote’s long interviews with Perry, who had become “platonic friends” (although there are rumors that there was a stronger association). After six years of researching, interviewing, and writing, In Cold Blood Part I was published in The New Yorker on September 25, 1965, just four months after Smith and Hickock’s April 14 execution. After being published in the magazine in four parts, Random House had the entire serial published in book form in 1966.
In Cold Blood was hailed by literary critics; Capote became more famous than ever before, thanks to his “non-fiction novel.” However, the book did have its critics. Many true “true crime” writers called Capote out, claiming his lack o f interview notes and his taking of a significant creative license made the book more a work of fiction and art. Having this in mind, one doubts the realism of the book. The piece being 100% true is of little real importance, in terms of literature, as it strives to give the reader a window into the mind and soul of a cold-blooded murderer. Fiction or non-fiction, In Cold Blood was Truman Capote’s masterpiece, giving us a glimpse into the criminal’s soul, one that is still relevant to this day.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Cold_Blood
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/capote.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/12/28/home/capote-obit.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Capote