It was kinda fun. But what a silly lot they are really. Anyway, I’m off to New York tomorrow—Jack is going only as far as Paris, where he plans to stop 10 days.
Thought the enclosed clip from the current Time might amuse you. Saint has another big hit: “The Odd Couple.”211 I have to go to Calif. late this spring about the stupid movie; and will tackle Kahlman [Kohlman] again about “Gainsborough Girls.”
All your friends that I saw in both Rome and St. Moritz mentioned Kin, and how much they liked him. One of them being Lady Diana [Cooper].212 Her face scarcely changes, but the rest is beginning to be rather aged. Poor Judy M. [Montagu] looked ghastly. A death’s head!
How nice that you are able to spend so much time at Broadchalke. As soon as I get home, I’m going out to my Long Island house. Unfortunately, it isn’t at all furnished—and I can’t afford to buy anything. If only I knew when I will be able to publish my book!
Charlie and Diotima seemed to have survived the winter; I’m taking them both with me on the plane. Jack sends love. Love and all fine wishes to Kin. And dear Eileen.
mille Tendresse [sic]
T.
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO ALVIN DEWEY III
[Verbier, Switzerland]
[Probably 22 March 1965]
Dear Dewey—
Again, I think the writing is good in a sentence by sentence way, and the characters are more roundly developed this time, and the narrative line is more complete. But the whole concept is overly familiar and the ending is very weak. Perhaps he was drafted after all and was one of the people sending you rude postcards? Keep at [it]; it may take 50 to 100 stories before style and subject and technique will suddenly come together. It’s like learning to swim.
Excuse the haste, but am leaving for New York—
Love
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO CECIL BEATON
[Brooklyn, N.Y.]
19 April 1965
Dearest Cecil—
This just an exhausted scrawl (you owe me a letter anyway), but I wanted you and Kin to know the case is over and my book is coming out next January. Perry and Dick were executed last Tuesday. I was there because they wanted me to be. It was a terrible experience. Something I will never really get over. One day I will tell you about it—if you can bear it.
It is still wintry here. But I read where you are having a lovely spring. My love to you and Kin and Eileen.
Hugs—
T.
P.S. Jack is well. So is Diotima. Charlie, as always, is a semi-invalid. Our house at the beach is going to be very pretty—in a simple way.
P.P.S. Have seen no theatre except “The Odd Couple”—which I thought very funny. It’s making Saint intolerably rich.
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO CECIL BEATON
Box 501
Bridgehampton, n.y.
16 June 1965
Dearest Cecil—
Finished the final Pages of my book three days ago. Bless Jesus. But incredible to suddenly be free (comparatively) of all those years and years of tension and aging. At the moment, only feel bereft. But grateful. Never again!
How wonderful about your new studio. And I’m so happy that you are able to devote so much time to your painting. It must be difficult, to say the least; but exhilirating [sic].
I will be in London June 12 & 13, leaving 14th for Athens and a long cruise to Istanboul [sic], the Turkish coast, then Rhodes, Crete etc.
It will be the first real holiday I’ve had in almost 6 years—free from my monumental obsession. Will you be in London then? I don’t suppose you will. Drop a line. Don’t know yet where I will stay, but will let you know. Will return here August 12th.
Jack is fine. Diotima is catching her quota of birds. Charlie is holding his own. My love to Kin. And Eileen.
mille Tendresse [sic]
T
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO JACK DUNPHY
[Spetsopoula, Greece]
22 July 1965
Precious Jack—
Rcvd. Your sweet, very amusing note just as I was leaving the Athens hotel. That Tillotson!213
Marella Agnelli’s father died suddenly and she had to fly back to Italy. So I sailed alone on the yacht with Kay Graham.214 Imagine that!—having a whole huge yacht to yourself.
However, the Agnellis, plus other guests, are rejoining the boat at Rhodes on the 26th. We are going to bypass Istanboul [sic] and go directly along the coast to Smyrna.
Spetsopoula is the private island of Niarchos. Fantastic! Beautiful! Have been here 2 days, but leave this morning.
Hope all is well with Charlie and sister. I love you and miss my darling one
T.
[Collection Gerald Clarke]
TO CECIL BEATON
[Brooklyn or Bridgehampton, N.Y.]
20 Sept. 1965
Dearest Cecil—
These have been frantic days. My book starts in The New Yorker this week.215 Hard to believe—after all these years. Feel too restless and tense to just sit here, so am going to New Mexico for two weeks—alone.
I had to go to Boston last week, and while there saw the Lerner show, which got very bad reviews.216 The first act has some charm, and two good songs, and Barbara Harris is fine. But the second act is a total let-down, really pointless and dreary. Oliver’s work is simply ugly. The show may have a certain success, but I’m sure you are well out of it. Also saw Leland’s musical, “Hot September” (adaptation of “Picnic”), which also got bad reviews, but which I kind of liked.217
Rcvd. your card from Venice, and noted, with pleasure, its cheerful tone. I hope you are able to be in the country and work on your new painting. I was deeply impressed with the ones I saw—they were so original, vital, forceful: truly painted. A wonderful departure and growth.
Jack is fine; Charlie is holding his own, and Diotima is the same as ever. I miss you. I love you.
T.
P.S. How I could make you laugh with stories about the Social Preparations for the impending visit of the Armstrong-Jones [sic]!!218 Unbelievable!
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO KATHARINE GRAHAM
[New York]
[23 November 1965]
Precious KayKay—
Bless you for the beautiful visit. Our Kansas friends were bedazzled and thrilled—and so was I.219 You were an angel to do that, really kind and thoughtful and generous, and I shall always remember it with great happiness and gratitude—
Love, et mille tendresse [sic]
Trubaby
[Collection Katharine Graham Estate]
TO ALVIN AND MARIE DEWEY
[Verbier, Switzerland]
15 Feb. 1966
Dearhearts—
I spent my first week here in a hospital room battling some kind of virus. But at last I have strength to hold a pen. Otherwise, found everything here okay—Sister in fine fettle, and Charlie’s asthma no worse than usual.
Hope you got my Valentine-day cable. I loved Marie’s sweet card. I had a very nice note today from Theda220—Dean sure gets around! Also had a note from Vi, who seems to be enjoying her boat-ride.
My hand-writing seems a little wobbly?—never mind.
It was nice of you to be kind to the ‘London Mirror’ reporter. But I really don’t know why you should be. The hell with them. Let these people shift for themselves. As time goes on, all kinds of people will be after you. Of course a lot of it will be fun and interesting. But watch out for the phonies!
The book is being published in England March 14. I will see that you get the reviews—which, am told in advance, are great: even better than U.S.
I will be home around March 20th. Maybe before. The weekend after my U. of K. appearance,221 why don’t we go to the Broadmoor? Sat. & Sunday. You decide.
I love you both. I love Paul and Dewey. And I miss you mucho.
Hugs & kisses
T.
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO DON CARPENTER222
[New York]
[11 May 1966]
Dear D.C.
I read your review in Ramparts. That’s a passionate embrace compared with some of the blows I’ve rolled with over the years. As for your own reaction to criticism, you’ll just have to learn to ignore it. Of course, with a first book that’s very tough to do. But it’s a good book, and it will find its own appreciative admirers.
I have reccomended [sic] you for a grant in creative writing from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. The decisions are many months away, and I don’t know whether you will get it—but we’ll see.
I hope you are at work on a new book.
With all good wishes
T. Capote
[Collection Edmond Miller]
TO JACK DUNPHY
[Hotel Ritz]
[15, Place Vendôme, Paris]
[27 July 1966]
Darling Jack—
Everything here incredibly hectic, but I guess it’s worth it.223 Reception at airport was like Lindbergh: even television crews. However, am going to Portugal on Sunday.
c/o Radziwill
—the address is: Quinta da Commenda
Setubal
Portugal
(until August 8)
I wish you had called me from Beach Haven; I wanted to talk to you before I left.224 Everything in Washington went okay.
I miss you, dearest one, and love you so much. Hope all is fine, and hugs for Charlie and sister.
Mille Tendresse [sic]
T.
[Collection Gerald Clarke]
1 Down There on a Visit, published in 1962.
2 Don Bachardy, a young artist, was Isherwood’s longtime companion.
3 With music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Saratoga opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York on December 7, 1959, and ran for eighty performances.
4 Joe Masteroff’s The Warm Peninsula opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre on October 20, 1959, and ran for eighty-six performances.
5 Alvin A. Dewey, Jr., led the Kansas Bureau of Investigation team investigating the Clutter murders. His relationship with Capote had a rocky start, but Capote soon became friendly with Dewey, his wife, Marie, and his two sons. Capote called him “Foxy” because he refused to give him privileged information. Dewey’s “long and heroic journey”
