While a classic in American literature Breakfast at Tiffany's has been outshined by several factors. When people think of Breakfast they will most likely think of the film adaptation that is so iconic, and when they think of its author Capote they will most likely think of "In Cold Blood" his most famous work. The novella that started so small and has grown so large is overshadowed by its predecessors, yet it is still beloved. My own experiences with the book have been nothing but pure joy. I read the book when I first got into college. Adrift, uncertain of myself, and experiencing the "mean reds" the book struck a chord with me. Often dismissed by critics, the New Yorker which Capote wrote for said the book was "empty nostalgia", the book is still popular with the public and it contains so much more than people seem to embrace. According to Random House, the book in 2008 was still selling 30,000 copies yearly. I know I've bought multiple copies of the books throughout the years as mine wear out.
I'm excited to use this project as an opportunity to look at the novella that has meant so much to me with fresh perspective tackling it as book history. Looking at the book within the context of book history and its impact on culture over time.
Researching this project I tried to use as many primary sources as possible but these are difficult to come by. Manuscripts of the book sell for thousands and are not available to the public except in snippets. In fact a typed manuscript of the book sold for $306,000 at auction in 2013. While Capote was passionate and vocal about his work he mostly did this through letters and interviews, a lot of those have not been digitized or made available so it required a lot of tracking down to find the resources I did use. Secondary sources are used from a variety of academic journals, books, articles, and blogs to fill out information as needed.
I hope that you take a little more knowledge about this book away with you at the end of this and that it may inspire some to pick up the classic and give it a shot. It's taught me a lot about myself and reminded me the importance of the pursuit of your dreams. Hope is a beautiful thing and remember:
"Be anything but a coward, a pretender, an emotional crook, a whore: I'd rather have cancer than a dishonest heart. Which isn't being pious. Just practical. Cancer may cool you, but the other's sure to."
-Truman Capote
Citations
McInerney, J. (2013, August 28). The making of Holly Golightly. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10259451/The-making-of-HollyGolightly.html
Report, P. S. (2013, April 26). Truman Capote’s ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ manuscript sells for $306K at auction to Russian billionaire. https://nypost.com/2013/04/26/truman-capotes-breakfast-at-tiffanys-manuscript-sells-for-306k-at-auction-to-russian-billionaire/
I'm excited to use this project as an opportunity to look at the novella that has meant so much to me with fresh perspective tackling it as book history. Looking at the book within the context of book history and its impact on culture over time.
Researching this project I tried to use as many primary sources as possible but these are difficult to come by. Manuscripts of the book sell for thousands and are not available to the public except in snippets. In fact a typed manuscript of the book sold for $306,000 at auction in 2013. While Capote was passionate and vocal about his work he mostly did this through letters and interviews, a lot of those have not been digitized or made available so it required a lot of tracking down to find the resources I did use. Secondary sources are used from a variety of academic journals, books, articles, and blogs to fill out information as needed.
I hope that you take a little more knowledge about this book away with you at the end of this and that it may inspire some to pick up the classic and give it a shot. It's taught me a lot about myself and reminded me the importance of the pursuit of your dreams. Hope is a beautiful thing and remember:
"Be anything but a coward, a pretender, an emotional crook, a whore: I'd rather have cancer than a dishonest heart. Which isn't being pious. Just practical. Cancer may cool you, but the other's sure to."
-Truman Capote
Citations
McInerney, J. (2013, August 28). The making of Holly Golightly. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10259451/The-making-of-HollyGolightly.html
Report, P. S. (2013, April 26). Truman Capote’s ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ manuscript sells for $306K at auction to Russian billionaire. https://nypost.com/2013/04/26/truman-capotes-breakfast-at-tiffanys-manuscript-sells-for-306k-at-auction-to-russian-billionaire/