A Brief Overview of Truman Capote's Literary Journalism and Other Works

By patricejohnson
  • Capote's Early Years

    Capote's Early Years

    Truman Streckfus Persons later Capote after his mother’s second husband, was born on September 24, 1924, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents divorced in 1928 when he was only four.

  • Capote Moves to Alabama

    Capote was sent to live with relatives for a few years in the 1930s. This arrangement proved to be stable for him. Monroeville, AL is where he met his lifelong friend Harper Lee. In 1935, Joe Capote adopted Truman and he became Truman Capote.
  • Capote Begins Writing Journey

    Capote Begins Writing Journey

    Capote began writing at an early age and by the time he left high school in 1942, he landed a job including copy boy writing articles and short stories at the New Yorker.
  • Capote's First Book

    Capote's First Book

    Capote’s first book Other Voices, Other Rooms written in 1948 was thought to have been an autobiography.

  • The Muses are Heard

    During the 1950s, Capote and his companion lived in many places including France, Sicily, and Switzerland. In 1956, Capote wrote The Muses are Heard, his comic satire of his travels in Russia with the cast of the George Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess.
  • Breakfast at Tiffany's

    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    In the 1950s, Truman changed his writing style from traditional fiction to literary art form. Breakfast at Tiffany’s was published in 1958.

  • In Cold Blood

    In 1959, Capote saw the story of a gruesome murder in Kansas in the New York Times and decides take a trip to Kansas to research the story. He and his old friend Harper Lee made the trip. In September 1965, In Cold Blood was first published in the New Yorker. In 1966, the book In Cold Blood was released. It earned Capote a huge amount of money and attention in the literary world.

  • Capote's Unfinished Work

    In 1975, Capote began writing Answered Prayers. This work was never completed.
  • Capote's Final Years

    Capote's Final Years

    In 1980, Capote wrote one more book Music for Chameleons During the 1980s Capote abused drugs and alcohol appeared to have no desire to live.
  • Capote's Death

    Capote's Death

    In August 1984, Capote bought a one way ticket to California. He moved in with Joanne Carson and died on August 25, 1984.
  • Portrayals of Capote

    Portrayals of Capote

    In 1990, the biographical play, Tru had a very successful run on Broadway. In 2005, the movie Capote was released In 2014-2015, some unknown stories written by Capote during his teenage years were found and published in a German newspaper and by Random House.

  • Capote Photo Credits

    Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke