Marie, I hope your mother and father are happy in their new place. It sounds a much better arrangement. Give them my best; and love to Mother Dewey. And the boys—I know they must be happy now that school is almost out.
I love you both. Write soon—
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO PAUL DEWEY
[Palamós, Spain]
5 May 1962
Dear Paul—
As I cannot make this dinner, I thought perhaps you might like to go in my behalf. But even if you can’t go either, I thought you might like to have the invitation as a souvenir.120
I miss you and Dewey; much love to you both—
Truman
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO BENNETT CERF
Poste Restante
Palamos
Costa Brava
Spain
14 May 1962
Dear B.
I cannot write a foreword. I’ve tried. I’ve wasted four days making false starts. There are several reasons for this, but the main one is that I am imprisoned by “In Cold Blood”—and I doubt if I will be able now to write anything else until it is finished. It is like an illness—I cannot bear to be “away” from it, as it were; and for the last four mornings have wakened with a feeling of awful sadness—knowing I must try and Concentrate on Something Else. Alas, the plain truth is I can’t. I’m sure you understand.
And anyway, I think an Introduction and a Foreword are rather too much, though I perfectly see the commercial advantages of having the latter. I suggest the book-jacket read—
Chosen by the author; and with an Introduction by Mark Schorer.
That takes care of the fact that I selected the contents myself.
A kiss for Phyllis, and love love love to you both—
T.
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO BENNETT CERF
[Palamós, Spain]
14 May 1962
Dear Sir—
Want you to know that, at a cost to Random House of $10.82, I just rcvd. 10 copies of “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison in Japanese! Please let me know if you wish to have these books returned. Meanwhile, I remain
Most sincerely yrs.,
T. Capote
(A disgruntled stockholder)
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO DONALD WINDHAM
Palamos, Costa Brava,
Spain 3 June 1962
Dearheart—
Such a lot of good news! No, I did not see the Times reviews (and would like to); also, am delighted about the story, “Myopia” (good title).
Am working again, though for a month or more my life was upside down indeed. Corsica was a nightmare—I can’t begin to tell you: Charlie-dog nearly died of bronchitis—and in fact has been ill ever since; somebody at the hotel stole $500. in cash out of my suitcase—and those were the least, the very least, of what happened. And the people: they combine the worst characteristics of both the wops and the frogs—ugh. I suppose it’s beautiful—in a dry, grim, forbidding sort of way.
We have a sensational house here—very remote and right on the water. Jack has been swimming since early May but it is still too cold for me.
Was also glad to hear about Sandy’s [E. M.] Forster piece. Please send me a copy when it comes out.
We may come home after Christmas. I’m not sure. It rather depends on how things go in Kansas. Just fantastic how the case drags on and on. Nothing could ever compensate me for the amount of work and true suffering that has gone into this book.
Love to Sandy. et vous. And hugs, too
T.
[Collection Beinecke Library, Yale University]
TO BENNETT CERF
Palamos
Spain
15 June 1962
Dear B.
Just rcvd. your letter containing Mark’s introduction. Well, I like it. I think it’s okay, though rather brief. No, I think it’s all right about his mentioning In Cold Blood.
What have you decided about publication date? As I wrote you, I don’t care if it is postponed until March. Indeed, I’d much rather it were rather than have it get lost in the autumn rush.
I want to have a dedication page, please. And I want it to read as follows—
For Phyllis and Bennett
I am working every day and seeing no one. The Kansas Supreme Court is supposed next week to set a new execution date for Perry and Dick, presumably the first of October. However, I’m sure they will get another stay. Most lawyers seem to think they can keep alive another eight months or so.
Isn’t it wonderful about Slim marrying Kenneth Keith? He is a fine man. Very good-looking, only forty-five but a highly successful banker, rich—well, it just goes to show. She is terribly happy.
I miss you and angel P. I wish we were sitting by the pool in Mt. Kisco.
Love to you both.
T.
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO NEWTON ARVIN
[Palamós, Spain]
27 June 1962
Funny Honey Bunny—
Well, I’m happy to know your neglect was unintentional. Anyway, am delighted to know the book is done and want to hear what the publishers thought. I long to read it.
About the enclosed. Random House is doing a large Selected Writings book which they intend eventually to put in the Modern Library. They asked Mark Schorer to write a brief introduction. Will you please give me a hard, honest opinion of it? Do you think they should use it or not? What about the reference to “In Cold Blood” (Random let Schorer read the mss., or the half of it they have in their possession); does that seem to you a mistake?121As for the book itself, I’ve a long long way to go, another year, maybe two: oh it goes so slowly—I think you’ll see why when you read it (I will give you the mss. when I come home, which I expect to do soon after Christmas).
I would like to see the P. de Vries parody of Miss P.122 Actually, I’ve not seen the book yet—except the parts that appeared in magazines over the years.
Hope you had a pleasant few days with Bob L [Linscott]. He’s an enigma, really; but quite a dear.
Don’t bother to return the Schorer. But would like your opinion soonest.
Love to you, Sige. And hugs
T.
[Collection Smith College Library]
TO ARCH PERSONS
Palamos
Costa Brava
Spain
27 June 1962
Dearest A.—
Your letter, forwarded from New York, was received this morning, and I was very pleased to have it. It is quite true that I wrote you twice to a Mississippi (sp?) address, I believe a hotel in Jackson, and had you received those letters, and replied to them, perhaps this present misunderstanding would not have occurred, and you would not think me so neglectful. Truly, I feel only affection for you and love, and I think you rather misinterpreted a letter that I wrote you previously.
I’m afraid what Seabon [Faulk] said about my returning to America in July is not true.123 I plan to stay the summer, here on the Spanish Coast, then go to Switzerland until after Christmas. When I do go to the States, which will be sometime in February or March, it will be for a long stay, and I’m sure we will see each other then.
Also, it is not true that I have been working 7 years on my new book. Just three; with another year to go. It is very long, and my publishers think it much the best work I’ve ever done. Also, Random House is publishing this fall (or perhaps next Spring) a large volume of ‘Selected Writings.’ So you need not worry about my career; it has never been better.
Your reference to Seabon makes it sound as though you’d heard from him recently; or perhaps seen him. If so, how is he? He has had such a bad time, such rotten luck.
Really, I don’t think you should be so pessimistic: all this talk of dying friends etc. Are you ill? No. Are you old? No. At least I don’t think you could be more than 62, and I know a number of gentlemen far older than that who work all day and ‘Twist’ all night.124 Seriously, though, I am sorry your work entails such hard physical demands. At any rate, I do very much hope this finds you feeling reasonably well and rather more cheerful.
As for me, I’m all right. I was too thin, now I’m too fat (Spanish Cooking), and will have to do a diet. Enclosed is a recent photograph from a French newspaper, so you can see for yourself.
Please give my good wishes to Blanche.125
A hug, a kiss, and much love from
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO CECIL BEATON
[Palamós, Spain]
6 July 1962
Dearheart—
Rcvd. yr. sweet letter just now and hasten to say that if you prefer coming sometime toward the end of August then by all means do so. Do as you like. Any time is okay.
I lead such a monastery life—have no news at all. The Paleys are coming here for a few days next week. Perhaps they will have something to tell. Oh yes—I had a telephone call from New York (incidentally the no. is PALAMOS 45): a frail little voice came wavering over the wires: none other than Gloria V. [Vanderbilt]—who wanted to say that she was 1) divorcing Mr. [Sidney] Lumet and 2) coming to Europe for a month.
I hear varying reports about Slim’s banker. Babe met him and thought him very nice, but said others (the Trees, for instance) thought otherwise. Well, it doesn’t matter. As long [as] she likes him.
Could you send me the Oscar Wilde letters?126 Not as a gift. I’m sure it’s expensive. I will repay in pesetas.
Miss you. Love you—
T
P.S. Had a letter from Oliver S. [Smith], who said Irene S. [Selznick] had come for dinner, got plastered, and passed out for Ten hours!
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO ARCH PERSONS
[Palamós, Spain]
11 July 1962
Dear A.—
Have just rcvd. your letter concerning Seabon’s difficulties. I am very fond of Seabon [Faulk] and I agree that if I
