- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (29 April 1993)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140187014
- ISBN-13: 978-0140187014
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 13 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 322,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
With the publication of this book, Capote permanently ripped through the barrier separating crime reportage from serious literature. As he reconstructs the 1959 murder of a Kansas farm family and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, Capote generates suspense and empathy.
About the Author
Truman Capote was born in New Orleans in 1925 and was raised in various parts of the south, his family spending winters in New Orleans and summers in Alabama and New Georgia. By the age of fourteen he had already started writing short stories, some of which were published. He left school when he was fifteen and subsequently worked for the New Yorker which provided his first - and last - regular job. Following his spell with the New Yorker, Capote spent two years on a Louisiana farm where he wrote Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948). He lived, at one time or another, in Greece, Italy, Africa and the West Indies, and travelled in Russia and the Orient. He is the author of many highly praised books, including A Tree of Night and Other Stories (1949), The Grass Harp (1951), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958), In Cold Blood (1965), which immediately became the centre of a storm of controversy on its publication, Music for Chameleons (1980) and Answered Prayers (1986), all of which are published by Penguin. Truman Capote died in August 1984.
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First Sentence
The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call 'out there'. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call 'out there'. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hard to believe that this book was written by the same author who wrote "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but it was. Capote takes you right into the mind of a murderer and tracks the whole desolate affair from the deed itself through to punishment.
It's one of those great books where you are barely conscious of reading the thing. Ideas, events, emotions and images pass in front of you in all their horrifying clarity. A lot of people will come to this novel as a result of the recent movie Capote and may approach it armed with the experience of seeing many films that portray serial killers. But when this book was written in the early 60's, close scrutiny of murder and murderers was both shocking and very disturbing to the reading public.
While the impact of the novel may be reduced to 21st century readers jaded by violence, the quality, incisiveness and skill of Capote's writing conveys the detail, mechanics and mental state of a murderer in a way that has never been surpassed. A masterpiece.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While reading this book one must keep in mind that Truman Capote had two very distinct objects in mind as he worked on this project. First, he wanted to write a Nonfiction Novel and in that area he has succeeded marvelously. Many critics have in fact proclaimed this to be Capote's best work. The author's other intent was to make a statement against the death penalty, an object in which he is less successful.
Capote could not have picked a better case to write a novel about but he could hardly have found two condemned men who would illicit less sympathy. My own faith inclines me to oppose the death penalty but I would be hard pressed to stick to my convictions in this case. The crimes perpetrated by these two were of the worst kind and no matter their backgrounds I could muster little sympathy for either of them. Fortunately, Capote spends relatively little time overtly pleading his political case and the novel is not harmed much in this effort.
The novel itself is nothing short of a masterpiece and will keep the reader on the edge of their seat for almost it's entire length. Capote begins what is probably the first True Crime Novel by introducing the reader to both the Clutter family (the intended victims) and Perry Smith and Dick Hickock (the killers) along with the small Kansas town where the crime would take place. The reader follows the Clutter clan as they live their normal lives in the days before their murder and also rides along as Smith and Hickock plan their crime. From there, one rides the roller coaster through the crime, it's discovery, the getaway, the investigation, and the capture, trial, and execution of the perpetrators. Capote weaves his story in such a masterful manner that there will be times when the reader gets completely caught up in the story just as if he/she were there. While reading this book you will become very aware of every little noise outside your house so it may be better to read it during daylight hours.
I would advise anyone who likes Crime Novels or just good novels to put this book near the top of their to read list. The story is disturbing and a little graphic in places but this is the work of a master wordsmith and he has done his job well. This book deserves to be placed much higher than it is in the pantheon of great works of literature.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like many others, I came across this book after seeing the film 'Capote'. It's such a good book that I just couldn't put it down. At the same time I really didn't want it to end, purely because of the superb quality of the writing and the knowledge that a book this good only comes along now and again. Capote draws you in and immerses you in the parallel worlds of the Clutters and their murderers Hicock and Smith. It's a credit to Capote that a book published in 1966 about four gruesome murders that took place in small town America in 1959 and where we know who did it and what the final outcome was, can still hold such a powerful sway today.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great read
I got this book as a recommendation and I am glad I did. It does not count among my top genres but I enjoyed the story. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bobby Ferguson
Beautifully written
I'd hoped this book would be up to Catote's usual standard - and it was! It has the tension and anticipation of a well-crafted novel, but scores much higher for the reader because... Read more
Published 7 months ago by boatman
Utterly Brilliant
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is an account of the Clutter family murders that took place in the late 1950's. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Harry
book review
The book came as new and in perfect condition as described, and was delivered when it was said to have been, which was very quickly, thank you.
Published 9 months ago by Helen Jones
A Crime Writing Masterclass.
In November 1959, the writer Truman Capote was browsing through a newspaper when a brief news article reporting the brutal murder of a Kansas family caught his eye. Read more
Published 9 months ago by F. Khalastchy
'In Cold Blood'
Thought I'd read this book as it's my son's English A/S Level reader and wanted to be able to talk to him about it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Casper
Breathtaking, dignified, shocking, compassionate.
Having read this novel, there is little wonder that it pretty well created the genre of non-fiction crime literature. Read more
Published 18 months ago by aus_books
Not what I was looking for in a casual read
I purchased this as it was on our book club read and while it is a well written book (I've since heard it's used for education studies) as a story to read, it wasn't a favourite. Read more
Published 19 months ago by V. Houghton
How could it not get 5 stars?
Wonderful wonderful book.
Truman Capote launched the genre with style.
Many, however seem to be hell-bent on destroying it. Not these!!!! Read more
Truman Capote launched the genre with style.
Many, however seem to be hell-bent on destroying it. Not these!!!! Read more
Published 21 months ago by jackie sharp
Great insight to American life
I have two small criticisms of this book, I found at times he wandered off showing us a character here or there that really weren't necessary and secondly though it is a true story... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Eimear Mithen
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