"A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote
"A Christmas Memory" part 1 of 6 video (narrated by Truman Capote)
The extravagant, celebrated, and outrageous lifestyle led by the mid 20th century's leading man of flamboyance may be dim among today's own breed of celebrity outrageousness, but 50 years ago, it was a beacon in the bight life of high society and American Literature.
Truman Capote, best known for his works Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood, reached a pinnacle that many writer's dream of but few ever ascend. And no one climbed to that summit like Capote. Truman pioneered a new literary genre, the Nonfiction Novel, with what many claim as his ultimate work, In Cold Blood, the story of a rural Kansas murder recounting journalistic facts with the flair of prose.
To celebrate his rise to the summit of society in 1966, Capote hosted what would become known as the highlight of social events for years to come, the famous Black and White Ball. Capote's natural talent for weaving truth with fiction and his unflinching descriptions of his friends soon led to his rapid descent in popularity in the social circles he had worked so hard to adopt.
The rejection of his friends let to his increased drinking and drug use. His lack of continued sobriety in later years was matched only by his lack of work. Capote became more of a recluse and his last work, Answered Prayers (where he offended many of his friends) was published after his death. Truman Capote died on August 25, 1984, but his presence remains alive in the 21st century, even among today's celebrated caricatures.