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Truman Capote Essay

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Alas, Truman Capote, probably one of the greatest 20th century American writers of all time. Capote was a large part of the Southern Gothic literary movement. He really did not write in a set genre, he created his own which is commonly known as nonfiction fiction. His novels, short stories, and plays are mostly recognized as literary classics. He is most well-known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958), and In Cold Blood (1965). Many films and other television media have been produced from Truman Capote screenplays and stories. Truman led a hard childhood stricken with divorce and many relocations from place to place. Capote discovered his writing ability around the age of eleven and perfected it throughout the rest of his …show more content…

At five years old Truman was often seen with a dictionary and a notepad and began writing fiction around the age of eleven. He often mad trips to nearby Mobile, Alabama and at some point entered one of his stories, Old Mrs. Busybody, to a children’s writing contest and received recognition from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 1936. (Truman Capote)
In 1933 Truman moved to New York to live with his mother and step-father, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born textile broker who officially adopted him and changed his name to Truman Garcia Capote. After Joseph was convicted of embezzlement his family was forced to move and the moved to Greenwich, Connecticut where Truman attended Greenwich High School in 1939. In the year of 1942 Truman and his family moved back to New York where he completed his formal education at Dwight High School where an annual award is given in his name. (Truman Capote) Between the years of 1943 and 1946 Capote wrote a slew of short stories including “A Mink of One’s Own,” “Miriam,” “Shut a Final Door,” for which he was awarded the O. Henry Award at the age of 24, and “ The Walls Are Cold.” These were all published in literary quarterlies and well –known magazines at the time. Sometime during the 1940’s Truman wrote a series of novels about the romance of a New York socialite and a parking-lot attendant. He later said

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