Capote's Women

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New York Times bestselling author Laurence Leamer explores the intricate relationships and scandals surrounding Truman Capote's unpublished final novel, Answered Prayers. This work delves into the dark secrets and tragic glamour of the women Capote referred to as his swans—Barbara Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, C. Z. Guest, and Lee Radziwill—each a distinguished figure in midcentury New York. Capote, captivated by their beauty and charm, ingratiated himself into their lives, only to betray them in a shocking manner. Leamer examines the period after Capote's successes with Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood, during which he faced debilitating writer's block while enjoying the company of his wealthy friends. Inspired by their extravagant lives, he embarked on what he envisioned as his magnum opus. However, when he published excerpts in Esquire, the thinly veiled portrayals of his closest confidantes led to devastating fallout. The backlash severed his ties to high society and marked the decline of a world that was already unraveling. Through detailed accounts, Leamer captures the essence of these fascinating women, their friendships with Capote, and the ill-fated ambition to create a literary masterpiece.