Unabashedly Himself
Life in the 1940s was already difficult enough, but it was even worse for anyone who was openly gay, especially if they were in the spotlight. Nevertheless, Truman Capote resolved never to change himself for anyone, and possibly without even intending to, became an early icon for the gay community.
Whether or not it angered the public, he freely expressed his eccentric attitude and style—but it only took one publication to spark his tragic fall from grace.
1. He Went Away
Truman Capote lived most of his life as an outlier and constantly strived to go against the norm, which often separated him from the rest of society. Even in his early years, before his fame and scandal, his living situation likely made him feel not at home initially.
Following his birth in New Orleans on September 30, 1924, it wasn’t too long before his parents sent him to live with his mother’s family in Monroeville, Alabama. Still, this led to one of his most impactful relationships.
2. They Became Close
Truman’s parents were neglectful at best, which is why they sent him to Monroeville in the first place, leaving his mother’s family to raise him for about five years. Thankfully, he was able to grow close with some of them, especially with a family member named Nanny Rumbley Faulk—although he nicknamed her “Sook” while she called him “Buddy”.
As tragically lonely as youth was, there was a silver lining.
3. He Made A Friend
As Truman Capote grew older in Alabama, he began to make more friends, including several of the neighborhood kids. One of these friends, Nelle, would end up having even more in common with Truman as she later became another of America’s greatest authors under the name Harper Lee.
Their friendship was unforgettable.
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4. She Protected Him
Harper Lee may have been younger than Truman Capote, but she looked out for him and guarded him from the vicious bullies in the neighborhood. They bonded over their dysfunctional childhoods, and she later used him as inspiration for the character Dill Harris in her classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Both Capote and Lee also shared a passion for reading and writing—and their talent sealed their destinies.
5. He Started Writing
Truman not only showed a great interest in literature but also an impressive aptitude for it, taking his learning into his own hands. Before he even began his formal schooling in the first grade, he taught himself how to read and write. When he was only five, he was often a surprising sight to behold—rarely spotted without a notebook and dictionary in hand.
However, in 1932, his life turned upside down all over again.
6. He Relocated
Truman Capote had spent some of his formative years in Monroeville after his parents sent him there, but this wasn’t the last time he would see either one. The two of them had since split up, and his mother remarried, so in 1932, Truman left Monroeville and moved to New York with his mother and her new husband, José García Capote.
But no matter where he was, it was clear that he had discovered his purpose.
7. He Started At A Young Age
By the time Truman was 11, he was already trying his hand at writing fiction—and began honing his craft from there, submitting his work to contests or possible awards. In 1936, he received some validation when The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognized his talents. Naturally, he took his craft very seriously—but sometimes, he had a penchant for trouble.
8. He Got Fired
After returning to New York, Truman completed his education at a private school before graduating in 1942. Shortly before this, though, he had started a job at The New Yorker. There, he worked as a copy boy for two years, until an incident in which he accidentally insulted the poet Robert Frost resulted in his immediate firing.
Luckily, something bigger was on the way.
9. They Turned Him Away
The 1940s hit the US hard, and with them came all the horror and uncertainty of WWII, which forced many Americans to the front lines. In Truman’s case, the army conscripted him during the conflict, but he never actually served in it. According to his later explanation, every branch rejected him for the most bizarre reason—for being "too neurotic".
So, he went back to what he knew.
10. They Were Published
Truman had no problem writing a steady stream of short stories during this time, but these works weren’t just for his friends and family to enjoy. Throughout the 1940s, he saw many of his stories published in magazines like Harper's Bazaar, Prairie Schooner, and even his previous workplace, The New Yorker.
Little did he know, this was but a stepping stone to something far greater. One story, in particular, changed his life forever.
11. They Partnered With Him
Several of Truman's short stories were met with critical acclaim, but with one called "Miriam," he got the attention of those who believed they could profit from a partnership with him. Bennett Cerf of the Random House publishing company contacted Truman and offered him a contract to write a novel, which he accepted.
12. He Traveled Around
Truman was more than happy to sign on with Random House for his new novel, especially since they provided him with a $1,500 advance. Not someone to stay in one place, Truman spent most of his time writing on the road and in cities across the country, from Alabama to North Carolina to Massachusetts, where he finished Other Voices, Other Rooms before publishing it in 1948.
All that was left to do was see what people thought about it.
13. It Was Huge
Drawing from his own feelings and experiences as a gay man, Truman’s Other Voices, Other Rooms contained subject matter that was quite controversial at the time. However, this didn’t stop the novel from becoming an immediate hit with readers, as it sold over 26,000 copies within the first nine weeks, all while it remained on The New York Times bestseller list.
Not everything was about Truman, though.
14. It Was For Him
Although Truman refused to hide his identity as a gay man, not everyone could afford to do so. One of his relationships at this time was with a Smith College professor named Newton Arvin, who sadly lost his job when the school discovered his homosexuality. Nonetheless, Truman wouldn’t shy away from it and dedicated Other Voices, Other Rooms to him.
As for Truman, this wouldn’t be his last relationship.
15. They Were Different
Truman often enjoyed being the center of attention at various social functions, with one in 1948 standing out in particular. At this cocktail party, as he entertained everyone, Truman met another author named Jack Dunphy. As they got to know each other, it was clear how Dunphy’s quieter personality perfectly contrasted with Truman’s extreme extraversion. But what was even more evident? Their undeniable chemistry.
16. They Were Distant
Although they had opposing personalities, Truman Capote and Dunphy bonded over other aspects of themselves, especially their writing. They often worked on their literary projects together as they traveled, but eventually, this wouldn’t be enough. As time went on, they would spend less and less time together, with Dunphy frequently going as far as leaving the US.
On the other hand, Truman had time to focus on his rising popularity.
17. His Fame Grew
While some may have worried that Other Voices, Other Rooms would prove to be too controversial, thus ending Truman’s career before it began, the truth was quite the opposite. While it did spark a lot of discussion and backlash, this only served to grow his reputation and turn him into a hot topic.
But this was only the beginning.
18. He Worked With Them Again
In the wake of the success and publicity that Other Voices, Other Rooms had earned, Random House was more than happy to keep its relationship with Truman going. Signing him to another contract, they published 1949’s A Tree of Night and Other Stories, which featured many of Truman’s most famous short stories in a collection.
He also got a taste of other creative endeavors.
19. He Branched Out
As his work continued into the 1950s, Truman didn’t stop his usual form of writing, but he also wanted to stretch his talents further by dabbling in other outlets. Moving to live theatre, he began writing several projects for Broadway, such as his 1952 adaptation of his own novella, The Grass Harp. Beyond this, he began working as a screenwriter as well.
Little did he know, that he would pen one of his most iconic works by the end of the decade.
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20. He Wrote Another Novel
By 1958, Truman had compiled another collection of short stories, pairing them with his newest novella under the title Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories. The titular novella follows the life of a writer in New York, as he begins a friendship with his socialite neighbor.
Unfortunately, there were some hiccups with this publication.
21. They Made Changes
The Breakfast at Tiffany's novella may have found success, but the road to get there wasn’t an easy one. The plan was for Harper’s Bazaar to include the story in their July 1958 issue, but the publishers told Truman to change his language, as they didn’t like the tart tone. Begrudgingly, Truman accepted this as he still wanted the accompanying pictures and design provided by the magazine.
Still, it was all for nothing.
22. They Decided Against It
Despite his disagreement, Truman rewrote parts of Breakfast at Tiffany’s to suit the demands of the magazine publishers, but in a frustrating turn of events, they still weren't satisfied. The publishers still found the content to be too improper and worried that they would lose revenue from their advertisers—namely, Tiffany & Co—so they ultimately rejected the story.
However, Truman wasn't about to give up on the story just yet.
23. He Took It Elsewhere
Truman was more upset about the Harper’s Bazaar situation than worried about his novella’s future, as he had full faith in his other options. Sure enough, he was able to sell the story to Esquire, but had a stipulation of his own. Truman demanded that the magazine use the original pictures that he liked so much. Once again, fate dealt him another frustrating blow, as the magazine only agreed to a single full-page photo.
But not all was lost.
24. It Was His Masterpiece
Although Esquire’s choice to use only one of the previous images disappointed Truman, the change was soon overshadowed by the novella’s phenomenal reception. Since its release, the titular story and its characters have become possibly the most memorable of Truman’s, especially due to its massively successful film adaptation in 1961.
However, the adored film adaptation didn't satisfy Truman—for a shocking reason.
25. He Didn't Agree With The Casting
The film Breakfast at Tiffany's stars in the role of Holly Golightly—but her casting didn't please Truman Capote at all. Instead, he'd hoped for a blonde actress to take on the character, and he had one actress in mind: Marilyn Monroe. Though he tried to get the studio on board with his vision, he was once again foiled by the powers that be.
But despite this trail of disappointments, Truman was thriving—and the 1960s would only lift him higher.
26. He Began A New Project
Aside from his brief work on The Innocents, Truman spent the early 1960s writing his newest “non-fiction” novel, this time with a story that didn’t focus on his experiences. Instead, he drew inspiration from a 1959 news article about the unsolved slaying of a Kansas family. As a dramatized version of the incident, he began writing In Cold Blood.
Of course, he was sure to do his research.
27. He Spoke To Everyone
Truman wasn’t about to write an entire novel only based on the one news article he read, so he resolved to get as much of a firsthand account as he could. With his longtime friend, Harper Lee, he traveled to Holcomb, Kansas, where the horrific slaying had occurred. There, he spoke with nearly everyone in the area, whether involved in the investigation or not.
Not everyone was on board with the results, though.
28. They Had Doubts
Truman had conducted his research by relying on his memory retention, which he claimed had been tested at "over 90%," and asserted that In Cold Blood was a non-fiction work. However, this remained unconvincing to some, like Phillip K Tompkins, who traveled to Kansas himself and concluded that Truman had fabricated or embellished certain details.
While he wouldn’t publish another novel, his days in the public eye were just getting started.
29. He Held An Event
Another of Truman’s prestigious connections was with the publisher of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham, and he made it his goal to celebrate her properly in 1966. Planning an extravagant party called the Black and White Ball, he made Graham the guest of honor. However, this was likely only done so that he had a reason to have the ball in the first place.
This wasn’t just any regular event, though.
30. He Was Decisive
Word quickly spread about the Black and White Ball as the public hyped it up to be the event of the century, a prediction which turned out to be true. Naturally, anybody who was anybody was frothing at the mouth for an invite to the exclusive party, but Truman had no problem telling people no. In fact, he relished in deciding who was "in" and who was "out."
Understandably, Truman had a close inner circle.
31. He Had Wealthy Friends
While Truman made many connections in high society, he took pride in the smaller group of friends he cultivated, which was made up of rich, middle-aged women such as Babe Paley and Ann Woodward. Referring to these women as his “Swans,” he often traveled around with them and delighted in the gossip they often conveyed to him.
However, he capitalized on their personal lives in a chilling way.
32. He Used Their Stories
To his Swans, Truman proved to be an eager and observant confidant when listening to their secrets, but he wasn’t doing it only for them. Secretly, he retained all of this information to use in a new nonfiction book, Answered Prayers, that he was planning to publish in 1968. However, at his urging, the novel was later delayed.
When some of it did come out, the content made jaws drop.
33. He Published A Chapter
Before publishing Answered Prayers as a whole novel, Truman allowed Esquire to include several of the finished chapters in its upcoming issues. One of these chapters, titled "La Côte Basque 1965," was featured in a 1975 issue and followed the protagonist, Jonesy, and his discussions with a socialite named Lady Ina Coolbirth.
Unfortunately, there was a twist.
34. It Was About Them
In a shocking reveal, not only had Truman based the protagonist of "La Côte Basque 1965" partially on himself, but every other character in the story also had some roots in reality. Whether using the actual names of his Swans or making up pseudonyms, he had his characters gossiping about the real-life secrets and private affairs of his friends. The consequences were unthinkable.
35. They Turned On Him
Naturally, as soon as Truman published his “unintentional” exposé, the masses of his readers immediately ate it up, but others weren’t as pleased. Truman’s social life imploded as most of his Swans cut contact with him, since they both felt resentful of Truman’s betrayal, and that they couldn’t trust him with anything else going forward.
But the most horrifying fallout of all had everything to do with the actress and socialite, Ann Woodward.
36. He Exposed Her
One character in "La Côte Basque 1965" was a woman named Ann Hopkins, about whom the main characters reveal that she intentionally slayed her husband. The problem was that she was awfully similar to real-world socialite Ann Woodward, who had accidentally shot her husband after mistaking him for a burglar.
Rumor has it that when Woodward heard of the pending publication, the news spurred her to take her own life. Somehow, the nightmare didn't end there.
37. He Spiraled Downward
Despite the inherent harm that came with revealing the secrets of all his friends, Truman Capote was surprisingly gobsmacked by the negative reactions he received. Furthermore, he didn’t expect to lose his relationships with all his Swans, and he didn’t handle it well, throwing himself into drinking and substance misuse.
But friendships weren't the only thing he lost.
38. They Called It Quits
Even before Truman’s most recent scandal, he and Jack Dunphy had been drifting apart. Although some of this was due to a lack of time together, another significant factor was how Truman seemed to enjoy causing controversy, which Dunphy grew tired of. By the time of "La Côte Basque 1965," the two of them agreed to end their romantic relationship, but remained friends.
Still, there were other fish in the sea.
39. He Met Someone Else
Prior to the "La Côte Basque 1965" controversy, Truman Capote had already met the man whom he would move on to from Jack Dunphy, and who would also make his life all the worse. John O’Shea was a married man and father who met Truman in 1973 and began to spend more time with him, soon becoming the author’s business manager.
This relationship quickly turned sour.
40. They Were Toxic
Especially after his scandal, Truman Capote continued on the road to self-destruction, and John O’Shea was content to be right along with him. Despite being married, O’Shea began a romantic relationship with Truman, but it wasn’t a healthy one. Usually, while drinking heavily, the two would get in horrible fights, and O’Shea often became emotionally abusive.
Sadly, Truman's suffering didn't end there.
41. He Only Got Worse
Over the rest of the 1970s, Truman Capote and O’Shea spent most of their time at each other’s throats, with their interactions full of manipulation and bitterness. These extremely public issues took a further toll on Truman’s already poor well-being, and he could only find comfort in his repeated substance use.
Those around him could do little but watch.
42. She Felt For Him
Most of Truman’s Swans refused to associate with him again, but there were a few who were able to look past his betrayal and stick around as his friend. One of these women was Lee Radziwill, sister of the First Lady, , who later recalled this time in Truman’s life as “Heartbreaking, because there was nothing you could do”.
Meanwhile, he did try to get help.
43. He Tried To Fight It
Truman Capote wasn’t ignorant of his self-inflicted damage, even admitting in an interview that his use of illicit substances would lead to his demise if he didn’t change anything. Despite spending half of his time wallowing in self-pity, he otherwise did his best to seek help, frequently attending rehab institutes through the rest of the 1970s. This led to a significant change.
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44. He Left The Spotlight
In 1979, Capote decided he needed a makeover, undergoing a facelift, and a hair transplant, as well as losing weight. However, despite his self improvements, his relationship to drinking and substance use hadn't gotten better. He also felt that New York wasn't what it once was, and retreated from public life. In the early 80s, he experienced a frighting incident where a hallucination-based seizure landed him in the hospital for a long stay.
While he was there, the hallucinations continued. It was incredibly frightening, and doctors struggled to find a cause. Then, after they performed some much-needed medical scans, they discovered something shocking. Capote's brain mass had significantly diminished. As a result, his periods of lucidity grew more and more infrequent. And sadly, these issues would be the end of him.
45. He Was Over At Her House
In poor health, Truman Capote had decided he no longer wanted to be in New York, so he traveled to Los Angeles and stayed at the home of another of his remaining friends, Joanne Carson. Tragically, it was here on August 25, 1984, that he came to the end of his life, passing from liver disease that was brought on by his unhealthy habits.
Allegedly, he had a particularly special final moment.
46. He Saw Her
As Truman neared the end, Joanne Carson stayed with him and witnessed his final minutes as he once again started to see things. Right before he passed, Truman spoke aloud and said, "It's me, it's Buddy… I'm cold," suggesting that he was addressing his late family member Sook, who used to call him Buddy.
In the end, it all came back to one man.
47. He Always Trusted Him
Throughout Truman’s many romantic interests and variety of relationships, Jack Dunphy was the man who always seemed to hold a place in the author’s heart. This was even more evident after Truman’s passing, as even though the two had distanced themselves from each other, he had named Dunphy his chief beneficiary.
Shockingly, some of his legacy was almost lost forever.
48. He Threw It Away
Not all of Truman’s work made it to publication, whether it was the decision of the publisher or his own that stopped it. One of Truman’s earliest novels in the 1940s was seemingly not up to snuff in his own opinion, so he gave up on the manuscript and threw it out with the rest of the trash. Thankfully, this wasn’t the end of it.
49. She Found It
Truman later spoke about his 1940s manuscript, which never made it past the initial writing stages, and claimed that he destroyed it. Little did he know that a former house sitter of his apartment had found the manuscript in the garbage and saved it from being lost to time. It resurfaced in 2006, when Random House published the story titled Summer Crossing.
Even without this work, though, Truman’s legacy remains intact.
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50. He Did His Own Thing
In a society where most who were gay had to live in fear of people finding out, Truman Capote used his fame and social standing to live his life unapologetically. Although there was a Gay Rights Movement during his life, and while he was open about his identity, he never officially supported the cause. Nonetheless, many consider him one of the most significant American figures in the struggle for equal rights.
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