Inventors (3)

Truman Capote was the bad boy of good literature in the twentieth century. One of those people who invented their lives because the ones thrust upon them proved too small. People like Peter Beard who left a legacy of extraordinary photographs highlighted with blood, animal or his own –something not exactly up Truman’s alley- and then you have Romain Gary –he fought in WWII so nothing disgusted him- who produced a remarkable body of literary work in two languages.

Capote was born poor and unknown in New Orleans, within a family with more past than present. Starting at age four he was shuttled from house to house in the Deep South and brought up by a series of gentile and impoverished aunts in the best Scarlett O´Hara tradition. His wandering childhood mirrors that of Gary and goes to show that experiencing a certain amount of hardship early on never hindered anyone’s potential, something most people would definitely condemn today. Subject for another day.

Capote was an ardent believer in his talent as a writer and in his destiny. As soon as he can he scoots off to New York in search of a city and a society made to measure. His Gothic style leads to comparisons with Poe; I see him more akin to Proust. He harbors two distinct personae. The brilliant author who writes “In Cold Blood”, the tale of the Clutter family murders in Kansas - Capote thus invents the non-fiction novel and receives praise, fame and fortune- and the social butterfly circling the flame without getting burned. Until he does.

The Fifties’ is a time of heavy drinking, ruthless men who rule the game and their bored-to - death lacquered wives. Truman finds his calling and inserts himself as just another girlfriend amongst that most glamorous set of socialites: Marella Agnelli, Lee Radziwill, Gloria Guiness, Babe Paley all share great wealth, elegance and elongated necks. He aptly names them the Swans. Babe is the most beautiful, the most fragile and Truman’s favorite; she is his Duchess of Guermantes. Bill Paley, President of CBS is everything Capote is not, tall, powerful and virile. He blatantly cheats on Babe, who confides her unhappiness in Truman.

Unbeknownst to this cozy group Truman is writing “Answered Prayers” which he hopes will be his opus magna. During long periods of writer’s block he flies down with the Paleys to Round Hill their refined refuge in Jamaica.

He is drinking more and more, doing drugs, gaining weight and loosing relevance.

Against his editor’s advice he publishes “La Cote Basque” a chapter of his unfinished novel. There in thinly veiled characters and dialogues he spills out his Swans most intimate secrets.

The story comes out and explodes like a bomb. It is a shot to the heart of Manhattan society but the bullet’s ricochet takes out its author too. Overnight he becomes a pariah.

Shortly after that Babe dies of cancer without ever speaking to Truman again.

Capote never finishes “Prayers”.