I will not be in New York this year as I want to stay abroad until I finish the book. We will be here on the Costa Brava until [the] end of Oct. After the 1st of November, the address is:
Poste Restante
VERBIER
Switzerland
Have you read Nelle’s book “To Kill a Mockingbird”? When last heard from, she was headed for Alabama and a sort of happy nervous breakdown.
Dearest love to Evie. Send a line before I leave here. Miss you. Love
T
[Collection Richard Avedon]
TO NEWTON ARVIN
[Playa de Aro, Spain]
2 October 1960
Dearest Sige,
Well—at least it’s over. If, as you say, you must resign from the college, I hope it is not without compensation—that would be most unfair: after all, in a few years you would have retired. And am I wrong in thinking you will recieve [sic] other teaching-offers? Being “on probation” doesn’t mean you have to stay in Northampton, does it? Earlier in the summer, you mentioned a book you wanted to do on a subject you thought would surprise me: might it not be a reasonable idea to go to Yaddo for a while and start work? Of course, I know how hard it is to work when the future seems insecure and uncertain—or perhaps I don’t, since I have always felt insecure, and simply let the future take care of itself.
Speaking of which (my future), I will be here another 3½ weeks; after November 1st, the address will be:
Poste Restante
VERBIER
Switzerland
Verbier is a quiet little village high in the French Alps; I have taken a small apartment in a chalet until the end of April, by which time I hope to have my Kansas book half finished.
One thing, Sige: when and if you need money, please say so; I have some, I really do, and it would not inconvenience me at all.
Everything will start to sort itself out soon. Meanwhile, know that I am thinking of you and love you very much.
Mille tendresse [sic]
T
[Collection Smith College Library]
TO MARY LOUISE ASWELL
[Playa de Aro, Spain]
3 October 1960
Darling Marylou,
Loved your letter. No, we never got the letter from Greece—anyway, so glad you had such a fine voyage.
I don’t know—“holing up for the winter” in New Mexico sounds to me very cozy and delightful (I never remember whether it’s warm there or cold—or simply healthy). Actually, we, both of us, are looking forward to Switzerland—at least it will be a change of diet. Not that I’ve any real complaints against the Costa Brava—it’s been a fine place to work, and in fact I’ve done a tremendous amount on my Kansas book—whether it is worth doing remains to be seen: I think it is going to be “good”—but it will have to be more than that to justify ALL I HAVE GONE THROUGH.
Yes. Yes. Poor sweet Newton. I had a letter from him 2 days ago: he will have to resign his Professorship, and says he “doesn’t quite know which way to turn.” What’s to be done? I know he would appreciate hearing from you: 45 Prospect Street
Northampton, Mass.
After Nov. 1st our address will be—
Poste Restante
Verbier, Switzerland
I don’t know what Jack is writing: very secretive. But he is fine, in very good spirit, and will write you himself. How are Duncan and Pidgy? Love to dear Aggie43 and for you, precious one, hugs
more hugs
and
kisses galore
T
[Collection Aswell Family]
TO WILLIAM SHAWN
[Playa de Aro, Spain]
October 5, 1960
Dear Mr. Shawn—
I am leaving here the end of this month, and after the 1st of November my address will be: Poste Restante / VERBIER / Switzerland.
Verbier is a very remote and quiet village in the French Alps: should be a good work-place. Shortly after I get myself settled there, I will send you part one of my manuscript. I’m not sending it now because a) I still have tinkering to do and b) I am a coward, and want to postpone that nerve-wracking period of waiting to hear your opinion. Meanwhile, I am working on Part Two.
Have recently acquired a treasure-chest of supplementary material: the FBI’s official record of ALL interviews connected with the case. I knew most everything they contained, but not in such rich and surprising detail. How I finally got these documents is quite a tale: suffice to say that correspondence with my various Kansas informants takes up half of every day.
I hope this finds you well, with all good wishes—
Truman Capote
P.S. In [a] recent issue of the magazine, I notice that the writers keep comparing this and that to “soap operas”; and in the Oct. 1st issue, this occurs in no less than three departments: Theatre, Cinema, Books.
I liked very much “The Yellow Bus.”44
[Collection Unknown]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
[Playa de Aro, Spain]
10 October 1960
Dear Ones—
Bless you for the birthday greeting!
Had a note from Nelle—who is now “hiding out” in Conneticut [sic]. Poor thing—she is nearly demented: says she gave up trying to answer her “fan mail” when she recieved [sic] 62 letters in one day. I wish she could relax and enjoy it more: in this profession it’s a long walk between drinks.
Yes, I knew the Selznicks were Europe-bound, and I may see them in Switzerland. Did I tell you that I have finally taken a house there? A little chalet high in the French Alps. I leave here for there Oct 28th. After 1st November, and until the end of April, the address is:
Poste Restante
VERBIER
Switzerland
Be sure to send at once the results of the elections in Kansas—as regards Gov. Docking.
Thanks for the Audrey Hepburn clipping. They are all in New York now shooting some scenes for the picture.45
Question for Foxy: who found Nancy’s wristwatch in her shoe—Beverly or Eveanna?46 Which of these two was with Mrs. Helm47 when they realized Kenyon’s48 radio was missing?
Had a hurricane here a few days ago. Blasted windows, flooded floors, drove a large British freighter on to the beach. Otherwise the weather has been perfect: blue and still, sunny as an Autumn in Kansas.
Did you see the Sept. issue of Harper’s Bazaar? Dick Avedon did all the pictures in it—quite fabulous.
I miss you; all four of you. Much love,
hugs too,
T
P.S. I have finished Part One of the book (which is now in 4 parts), and it is over 35,000 words—which, by itself, is more than half the length of the average book!
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO DONALD WINDHAM
[Playa de Aro, Spain]
Poste Restante
VERBIER
Switzerland
17 Oct 1960
Dear one—
Thanks again to Sandy for sending the book; I sent a card when it arrived, but think I used the wrong address. Be sure and send your London address to Verbier.
Very happy that you have finished a new story, and happier still that [William] Maxwell likes it.49 Am looking forward to reading it—we get the magazine every week.
I have finished, or just about finished, Part One of my book, and it is over 35,000 words. The whole thing will run approx. 125,000 words—or twice again the length of an average book. So I wonder if The New Yorker will ever be able to run it. Never thought that I, of all writers, would ever have a length problem. But actually, it is very tightly written, and really can’t be cut (I’ve tried). Well, if I can’t come to terms with Shawn (and I can see that they might hesitate to devote 4 full issues to this enterprise—especially since it is not “pleasant” reading, and not very “entertaining”, as the word is used) my only regret will be that I have spent over $8,000 on research, which I will not be able to recover. But I shall go right on with the book, regardless: I suppose it sounds pretentious, but I feel a great obligation to write it, even though the material leaves me increasingly limp and numb and, well, horrified—I have such awful dreams every night. I don’t know now how I could ever have felt so callous and “objective”—as I did in the beginning.
You are quite right: don’t do anything about dramatizing “Hero” unless you get a good advance. But perhaps it would make a play—do you think so? Don’t understand why the book hasn’t had more reviews—I suppose it was because it was caught in the autumn tide; and, obviously, Crowell has done nothing to help.50
Sorry you are having so much rain. Wonderful weather here, but I am in bed with a disgusting cold.
Hope you have a delightful boat-ride to London, and that you enjoy your month (or so) there. Write me to Switzerland. Love to Sandy, bless his heart. I miss you.
Hugs
T
[Collection Beinecke Library, Yale University]
TO JOHN MALCOLM BRINNIN
as from: Poste Restante
VERBIER
Suisse
19 Oct 1960
Dear one—
Am still in Spain, but we leave next week for above address—good until next spring. So if you do go to Denmark!—speaking of which, they’ve just published a collection of my stories with a nice introduction by Isak Dinesen.
About Newton. Have had several very brave letters from him. He has had to resign from Smith, has no money, and feels, I’m afraid, very lost. How appalling it all is. Stupid and sad. What do people in “Academia” say? Does this mean he will not be able to get another teaching job? He wanted to take refuge at Yaddo, but the board of directors, notably Morton Zaubal [Zabel], vetoed it: can you imagine?51 I really want to know what the general feeling is—if you can tell me.52 It would help in writing him if I had some idea of the real situation. I am helping him to pay
