June 12, 1959
Dearest Cecil—
In my not very humble opinion, your agent and his reader are wrong one hundred percent; and wrong in such a wholehearted, pigheaded way that I, for one, cannot talk back to them: which is the whole point: either you appreciate the diary as it is, or you just don’t—it isn’t anything you can argue about, anymore than you can argue with a person who doesn’t like asparagus. I realize their sincerity, and quite see that many people, a majority perhaps, would agree with their view. But the value of the diary is in its honesty; if you tinker with it it will become something other than yourself. These critics are simply asking you to be something other than you are: something that conforms to their idea of what is Proper, Tasteful, Interesting etc. I say fuck them; such people would never like the diary regardless of what you did.
I was terribly dissappointed [sic] not to be able to see you, or even talk to you, while you were in New York. But I have to go to the mainland for a telephone, and it is all very complicated. The house is wonderful—big clean light and breezy, surrounded by beautiful tree-filled lawns sloping down to beaches—much the best place we’ve ever had. Wonderful for work. I hope we will still be here when you come back, I long for you to see it. How did you like “Gypsy”?381 Oh dear, it is upsetting about Nick; he could learn so much, he is such a fool not to take advantage. Or perhaps that is just what he is doing, taking advantage. All the animals are well, so is Jack, everyone sends love. Write soon, I miss you, dearest friend.
Always
T
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO CECIL BEATON
Clarks Island
Duxbury, Mass.
15 July 1959
Dearest C.,
I so enjoy the picture of you sunning the Gainsborough costumes in the garden: well, it is exciting news that at least the play will be done!382 I think Donald Wolfit will be excellent—have you cast the daughters yet? I long for all the news—when it opens, where. It would be nice (for me) if I could arrange a quick flight over to see it. Who knows!
I have not heard from Slim [Hayward] since early June, at which time she was in Spain; I believe she is still in Europe, but lately I had become very concerned by her silence—so your item about Leland [Hayward] and Pam C. [Pamela Churchill] stunned me; I’d heard nothing about it!383—Babe [Paley], who is in Biarritz, did not mention it [in] her last letter, though that reached here several weeks ago. Toward the end of May, just before I came back, I saw Leland and Mrs. C., in tete-a-tete at a restaurant—and I kidded them, and said I was going to write Slim (who had already left for Europe, where Leland was supposed to join in a week—but never did). As a matter of fact, with my usual gaucherie, I did write Slim asking if she knew her husband was running around with the notorious Mrs. C. Oh dear! Are you sure it’s true? Has he really left Slim? Please write me what you know. I am devoted to Slim, I’m amazed she hasn’t written me, I must find out where she is at once.—Everything here goes well, really love the house, and am working hard. Jack sends best. All good luck with the play, my darling friend. Love
T
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO BENNETT CERF
[Duxbury, Mass.]
23 July 1959
Dearest Both,384
Bless you, at least bless Bennett, for the nice letter, and of course I want to do, or re-do, the children’s book. L. Boriss sent me the mss. and I have been thinking about it. But, since the word limitation has been removed, I wonder if this is the right story. At any rate, I’ve thought of another one which seems to me delightful. Well, I’ll do one or the other. This is a picture, blurry though it be, of the house—it’s really very nice, a perfect place to work, I wish I were rich and could buy it. Anyway, I have been writing, and writing on my novel and on a long short story. I hope you have been having a lovely Mt. Kisco summer. I am very worried about Slim; she was really shocked over Leland and dear Pam; she has been staying with the Paleys in Biarritz, but now they are coming home, and I hope she does too; I wish she would come and stay with me. Please send me a copy of Moss Hart’s book (I guess I’m the only actual gossip who hasn’t been sent it).385 I doubt that I will come home before Oct. 1st; but my goodness I do miss you! Oh—I’ve lost 6 pounds! And will settle for ten. Don’t do anything spectacular—wait for me.
LOVE
T
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO WESLEY HARTLEY386
[Postcard] [Clarks Island]
[Duxbury, Mass.]
[23 July 1959]
I should say a student does well to remain one as long as he can. It seems to me very doubtful that formal education could ever harm a potential artist—of course, it won’t make him one either.
T. Capote
[Collection unknown]
TO WILLIAM SHAWN
[Clarks Island]
[Duxbury, Mass.]
18 August 1959
Dear Mr. Shawn,
After a total of some eight months work, I am still not satisfied with my article, “A Daughter of the Russian Revolution.” I seem to have lost faith in the piece, or at least in my ability to do it. Therefore, I am returning the money for plane-fare the magazine gave me. If we can arrange another project for me, I will try not to dissappoint [sic] you (or myself).
Sincerely,
Truman Capote
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO GLORIA VANDERBILT
Clarks Island
Duxbury, Mass.
20 August 1959
Darling Friend,
Forgive my delay; I’ve been gone for ten days, during which time the play arrived.
Now I’ve read it twice. The scenes are a series of poetic mosaics, each very evocatively inlaid: your eye is fine, a painter’s eye that sets loose an extraordinary montage of haunting or humourous images, and each, taken separately, successfully projects its color and mood. But it seems to me these moods, these vignettes, are too separate—or, perhaps, too alike. I feel that in most writing, but especially dramatic writing, fantasy, particularly psychological fantasy, must be framed with very realistic detail: otherwise it does not quite come alive—poetry cannot be all poetry, it needs the contrast of mundane matter. The thematic line of “Cinamee” is perfectly clear; but, as a play, it leaves me dissastified [sic], for its characters seemed to me insufficiently fleshed, and their movements, in the sense of character continuity, too arbitrary. It is a ballet with words: I do not say that in criticism, quite the contrary, for it is a remarkable accomplishment, probably one that could not have been achieved using any other method than you have. The writing throughout is gifted and poetically inventive, and I would extremely like to see this play acted. At the same time I would like to see you write another play—one in which you deliberately suppress your natural talent for atmosphere and “choreographed thought”: a naturalistic, unexperimental play using your very sharp insight into everyday matters. I know you could do it, and it would strengthen your other gifts manifold. You have real talent; and, just as important, great discipline.
Darling, I hope you are having a good summer. Mine is quiet; I write, I read, I sit on the beach a bit: c’est tout. I miss you very much; will be back Oct. 2nd and hope to see you soonest. Write just a line. My love always
T
[Collection Gloria Vanderbilt]
TO CECIL BEATON
[Clarks Island]
[Duxbury, Mass.]
24 August 1959
Dearest C—
As I don’t know where “Landscape with Figures” (I like the new title) is opening, or when (though I think it should be out very soon) I hasten now to send you the most heartfelt good-wishes.387 So does Jack. I know you must be in a swivet, and I do not envy you—but really know that my hopes are very much with you.
Have just returned to the island from a week’s visit with the Paleys in New Hampshire. It was the first time I’d been away, but I do not enjoy households overrun with children, so it was delicious returning home to this with isolation and peace; I would not mind living here all the time, and just making forays into the world. But I’m afraid that is not physically feasible. From having been the most gregarious of persons, I seem increasingly to require huge doses of privacy. At the Paleys (who, by the way, are in great spirits and beautiful shape) there was much talk about what is termed “Topic A”—the Hayward-Churchill fandango. I had a long letter from Slim, very touching, very regretful, but full of good-sense; it seems that Leland has never asked her for a divorce, though Mrs C. tells everyone she will be Mrs. H in November. The whole thing has caused a “situation” among the Cushing girls:388 Babe and Minnie have vowed undying enmity to “that bitch,” while sister Betsy [Betsey] is Mrs. C’s greatest partisan (so grateful is she that the threat to her own happy home has been removed). Tout New York is divided into warring camps—the pro-Slim contingent, led by Mrs. Paley with Jerome Robbins and Mainbocher as seconds in command, have already sent Mrs. [Leonora] Hornblow to the firing-squad because she gave a dinner for Leland and Mrs. C.—which was odd, considering she has always been so close a friend of Slim.389 No doubt Mrs. C. will be the winner in the coming contest. Needless to say I am a Slimite to
