Capote, Truman. (1924–1984)
Archive of Letters to his Spanish Translator, including one about "In Cold Blood"
An interesting archive including two autograph letters and an autograph postcard from author Truman Capote to Dr Ramon Garcia-Castro, who translated Capote's work into Spanish and also penned a critical volume on the author, "Truman Capote: de la Captura a la Libertad". The first letter (on stationary from "Gemini", the Florida home of "Swan" Gloria Guinness, 4 February 1964) reads: "Dear Senior Castro- Thank you very much for your kind letter. I very much look forward to reading your essay. With good wishes -- Truman Capote." The second letter (on Capote's own Tiffany & Co stationery, 30 April 1964) reads: "Dear Sir- Thank you for your letter. Yes, I received your book and was pleased to do so, through unfortunately my Spanish is so very poor that I cannot read it with any degree of real appreciation. However, a friend of mine, a student of Spanish literature, has promised to read it for me, and if you could send him a copy, I will give it to him. I have been working for five years on a new book; it is quite long (for me), but I expect it to be finished by September. I am very excited about it (usually I am _not_), and I hope you will like it. It's called "In Cold Blood." With good regards T. Capote." The postcard (postmarked Jun 17, 1968) reads: "When you arrive in the United States please let me know and I will be very pleased to see you. My address is 870 United Nations Plaza, New York, N.Y. Sincerely, T. Capote."Sold together with two copies of Capote's El Arpa de Pasto (The Grass Harp) and two copies of Un Arbol de Noche y Otros Cuentos (A Tree of Night and Other Stories), both translated by Ramon Garcia Castro, along with eight copies of Truman Capote: de la Captura a la Libertad, one inscribed and signed by the author. The February 1964 letter somewhat soiled, with push-pin hole in corner, staining to envelope; May 1964 letter both stationery and envelope faded from their original Tiffany blue, else fine; postcard slightly toned at edges. The books are all paperbacks with moderate bumping.
The highlight of this intriguing collection is the superb letter with explicit reference to the author's most famous work, written as he labored to finish it. Inspired by a short mention of a multiple-murder in rural Kansas, Capote devoted nearly six years of his life to researching and writing his groundbreaking ‘new book,’ which was not in fact completed September of 1964 and was not published until two years later. Upon its publication in 1966, In Cold Blood achieved worldwide literary acclaim, making Capote one of the most highly sought writers of his day. Truman Capote rose above a childhood troubled by divorce, a long absence from his mother, and multiple migrations, discovering his calling as a writer by the age of 8. The critical success of his 1945 story "Miriam" attracted the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf, and resulted in a contract to write the novel Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948). In 1958, the collection Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories followed. (19110)
Autograph Letter Literature