The enclosed check is to cover expensive postage or a cable if something important comes up. When will the Court announce on the Second Appeal? Oh Lord, if only I knew when the whole damn thing would end! By the way, I am certainly going to be there for the end—if and when. How do I go about arranging that?
I hope you had a fine four days in Cuchara; sounds so cool and charming.85 At the moment, I rather wish we were back in Switzerland—am returning there end of September, and suppose will spend the winter there, with maybe a month in Paris. Meanwhile, my house is just sitting in New York, costing a mint, all because I refuse to go home until the book is finished, and I can’t finish the book.
Charlie J. Fatburger is out on the beach chasing Sister (cat)—she’s not afraid of him, when she gets tired she just turns and swats him one.
Summer is going, and I guess the boys will soon be back in school. Give them my love. I miss you all. Hugs
Your very own
T
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
[Palamós, Spain]
4 Sept 1961
Dearest All—
Bless you for the letter with the beautifully detailed answers to my innumerable queries. I shall try and put them to good use.
So glad the Colorado trip was such fun. At last the tourists have left here and today we had a great storm—the waves are rolling across the beach almost to the front door. However, plan to stay here now until Oct 15th or 20th.
I shall write Cliff [Clifford R. Hope, Jr.] a letter about arranging for me to attend, to use Marie’s excellent phrase, ‘the final scene.’ I do hope Alvin is right, and we will reach that date sooner than later.
Enclosed is another portrait of Mr. F.86—he’s still chasing Sister and vice-versa. I don’t [know] what I shall do when we get back to Switzerland—because then they’ll both have to stay indoors most of the time.
The film of ‘Breakfast at T.’ opens Sept 20th in New York at Radio City Music Hall. I could have had a free trip to N.Y—the producers wanted me to come to the opening. But I decided I’d best stay here in Kansas (which, mentally, is where I am most of the time). Had a letter from Jennifer J. [Jones], who asked about you and said to give you her regards: she’s just finished her picture, “Tender is the Night.” Not a word from Miss Lee, however—not since early August.
My love to the boys. I miss you, and love you, each and all. Hugs—
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN DEWEY
Poste Restante
VERBIER
Switzerland
2 Nov. 1961
Dear Alvin,
Since writing two days ago—and after starting work again on Our Volume—I discover that a bit of Dewey Lore is unaccountably missing. Which is: prior to L’Affaire Clutter, what other murder cases have you investigated or been involved with? Other than the Bandshell Case87 (incidentally, just very briefly, what is the outline of that case: a boy killed a transient in a lavatory and then buried him and reburied him? Alas, I didn’t make notes on it and it is rather hazy in memory). I don’t want details about other murder cases (except Bandshell), just want to know how much or little such matters have figured in your career. Mr. Shawn, who has read 60,000 words of the mss. (which is slightly less than half) and thinks it is “much the best work” I’ve ever done, asked me in a letter the other day: “Are those Deweys, all five of them (including the cat) really so charming and intelligent and warm?” The answer is: yes, of course.
Another thing: whatever became of Jonathan Daniel Adrian?88 Was he given a sentence—or finally let go (what date?).
Hope you will be able to answer this soon, as I am actually writing the part that requires the Great Detective stuff.
Love to all Five
From your old Friend
[Self-portrait drawing of Capote with bow tie, eyeglasses, and a halo]
↑
Namurt Etopac89
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO CECIL BEATON
Verbier
Switzerland
3 Nov. 1961
Dearest heart—
Jack had a cable this morning saying Joanie (McCracken) had died.90 I always was very fond of Joanie—I cried. But after reading the cable, Jack went right on doing what he was doing (eating an apple). Which means he will be having some serious reaction later on.
Was so happy with your letter. I’d written Eileen [Hose] a few days ago (thinking you were still in America) saying G. [Gloria] Guinness had told me you were Lausanne-bound, and I wanted you to come here. But you do not mention this. I wish you could. As I have 2 apts. here until Dec 20th—our little place, and a larger apt. next door that I’ve rented to work in. You would like it and be comfortable. And I won’t be here the whole month of January—I’m going—to Kansas for 2 or 3 weeks (research work) and New York for a few days. But you could come in February—except you’d have to stay at the hotel.
About my health. I am taking care of myself. I scarcely smoke at all—at most 3 or 5 cigs a day. I drink [unclear] by the gallon. And at the moment I feel okay—but I have, during the summer, had several “spells”. And I do believe in our dear Dr. G.—but my finances are not in very good shape at the moment, and Dr. G. is terribly expensive, at least the bill he gave me for my treatments last June seemed to me very high indeed (and even so, he said he was not charging me his full regular fee!). But please don’t mention this matter to him.
Do you mean to say Waldemar [Hansen]’s play really got produced?91 Christ! Adored the Withers-Selznick story: she is the ultimate. I had a letter from her this summer that—well, to call it the Ravings of a Maniac is a real understatement. I read reviews of F. [Francis] Rose’s book making hideous fun of it. Months ago I wrote your publisher, Mr. George Weidenfeld (who happens also to have published “Observations”) and asked him to send me a copy of the Murder dictionary by Colin Wilson that he was publishing. He never even acknowledged my request—much less sent the book.92 If you see him tell him my address here and that I would very much like to have the book.
Was much amused by the Douglas Cooper stabbing.93 They ought to give the soldier a medal. Incidentally, does anyone know why Arthur J. [Jeffress] cooled himself?94 (or was it simply that he took a good long look in the mirror?).
Why do you want to go to S. America? Sure, I’ll meet you in Kano—if you’ll tell me what and where it is.95
Weather here is glorious. Snow. Brilliant hot sun. And the air. I don’t understand how you sea-level people can endure living down there in those dank pits!
Too bad about the Tiffany film. I doubt that I will ever go to see it.
So sorry to hear your mother is in the hospital. Why don’t you give the dog to Eileen? It could come to work with her every day. Charlie J. Fatburger is (as Diana V [Vreeland] would scream) deevine.
I love you.
T
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO LEO LERMAN
Poste Restante
Verbier
Switzerland
5 Nov. 1961
Leo dear,
Your cable arrived without a signature; even so, I was quite, and instantly, certain that it came from you, and I want to thank you, and so does Jack; it was most kind and tender and thoughtful of you. Poor sweet Joan. When I told Jack, he didn’t say anything, nothing at all, He went right on doing what he was doing (eating an apple). It was a bitterly cold day, and snowing, and after an hour he went out in the snow, and he didn’t come back, and didn’t come back, and finally it got dark: I was very worried—but when he finally appeared I saw, I could tell, that he had had a long, long cry. But still he did not mention it, and still hasn’t, except last night he said quite suddenly—“God, I’m glad she spent that winter on Fire Island!”
You are a real and dear friend. I think of you often, and at the oddest moments. Like: this summer I saw a very happy looking man standing on a beach with a pet owl on his shoulder: and I thought of you for hours.
My love to Gray; and always to you
Truman
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
Verbier
Switzerland
21 Nov. 1961
Dearhearts—
I am going to London tomorrow for a week—to see the doctor and attend the world-premiere (as they say) of my film “The Innocents” (very good; be sure and see it). However, I wanted at once to thank dear Alvin for the detective information and also for sending me that extraordinarily vulgar magazine containing the preposterous Hickcock [Hickock] Nations contribution.96 Dear God!—and to think that I was worried about Mr. Nations. However, some few details are interesting (from my point of view). Also, it is obvious that this ‘article’ has been cut out of a much longer mss. I would certainly be interested to see the original Hickcock [Hickock] mss. before Nations tampered with it.
Marie, I am so very glad to hear that your father is improving, and I hope he will be able to travel soon.
Blessings on you both, and love to the boys—
T
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE
