Capote's Women

A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era

By: Laurence Leamer

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

DON’T MISS FX’s FEUD: CAPOTE VS. THE SWANS—THE ORIGINAL SERIES BASED ON THE BESTSELLING BOOK—COMING SOON!

New York Times bestselling author Laurence Leamer reveals the complex web of relationships and scandalous true stories behind Truman Capote's never-published final novel, Answered Prayers—the dark secrets, tragic glamour, and Capote's ultimate betrayal of the group of female friends he called his "swans."

“There are certain women,” Truman Capote wrote, “who, though perhaps not born rich, are born to be rich.” Barbara “Babe” Paley, Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli, Slim Hayward, Pamela Churchill, C. Z. Guest, Lee Radziwill (Jackie Kennedy’s sister)—they were the toast of midcentury New York, each beautiful and distinguished in her own way. Capote befriended them, received their deepest confidences, and ingratiated himself into their lives. Then, in one fell swoop, he betrayed them in the most surprising and startling way possible.

Bestselling biographer Laurence Leamer delves into the years following the acclaimed publication of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1958 and In Cold Blood in 1966, when Capote struggled with a crippling case of writer’s block. While en­joying all the fruits of his success, he was struck with an idea for what he was sure would be his most celebrated novel…one based on the re­markable, racy lives of his very, very rich friends.

For years, Capote attempted to write An­swered Prayers, what he believed would have been his magnum opus. But when he eventually published a few chapters in Esquire, the thinly fictionalized lives (and scandals) of his closest fe­male confidantes were laid bare for all to see, and he was banished from their high-society world forever. Laurence Leamer re-creates the lives of these fascinating swans, their friendships with Capote and one another, and the doomed quest to write what could have been one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.

©2021 Laurence Leamer (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of NY Post’s 35 Best Book Gifts for Everyone on Your 2021 Holiday List

One of NY Post’s Must-Have Books for Fall 2021

One of Town & Country’s Must-Read Books of Fall

One of Wall Street Journal’s 12 Books to Read for October 2021

One of Garden & Gun's Favorite Books of 2021

One of PopSugar’s October Must-Reads

“Babe Paley, Slim Keith, C.Z. Guest...they were the stars of '50s and '60s society. They were also the women Truman Capote loved, flattered—and betrayed. A fascinating look at their world.”—People

"Laurence Leamer deftly tells the stories of the stylish, glamorous women whose trust Capote cultivated and then betrayed. Mr. Leamer has delivered a fast-paced, sensitive tale of the swans, their tumultuous lives and their dismay at Capote’s treachery.”—Wall Street Journal

“In this delicious dissection of the writer and the women he befriended, Laurence Leamer uncovers what it meant to let Capote into your inner circle, how each of these women found friendship and frustration with him, and what happened when he committed the ultimate betrayal.”—Town & Country

Captivating

Although I certainly knew who Capote was and had read and seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I never knew about his swans. This book speaks to how sad and lonely these women and Capote’s lives were. If ever the expression “you can’t buy happiness” we’re true, this book solidifies this. It is definitely worth reading or listening to this book for a glimpse into the pathetic life of Truman Capote.

Excellent

So much detail yet easy to follow thanks to a clear and enjoyable narrator performance.

Excellent author and voice read. Not great editor.

Great book and great performance reading.
The editor really didn’t seem to do their job. The word “measure” in some form was used several times a page and sometimes multiple times in a paragraph. It was distracting throughout the entire book. Additionally the use of the word “transvest***” as a current term to describe a transgender person, and not quoting someone saying it from the past, should have been flagged by an editor for sure. I don’t put these flaws on Leamer. He did a great job researching, crafting and writing the story. The editor didn’t do their job smoothing out the edges.

Loved it

Full of vibrant characters, this book at times felt further from the real world then many science fiction pieces. Yet an extremely engaging story about no ordinary people.

Riveting!

Magnificent writing and performance! Could hardly stop listening and often kept the car running in park!

Out of order

I wish this had been year by year and not all over the place. I understand each swan had to have there history told but I just felt it jumped around too much and was confusing sometimes and repetitive.

Jackie did not divorce Ari

Shocked at Leamer’s basic blundering of facts. He states that Jackie divorced Ari and got a settlement. Untrue! Anyone with a basic knowledge of the Kennedy’s knows Onassis wanted to divorce her but they never actually divorced and he died in Paris as her husband and she got money after his death. She was widowed twice. I cannot fathom this oversight. I’m not sure whether to believe the basic life stories of Truman or his swans if he can get that part wrong. And no editor noticed!? Really really embarrassing.

Amazing reader! A+++

Juicy, delicious story of rich fabulous ladies behaving badly. Love! And Capote is one of my favorite authors. I loved learning more about him.

Wonderful!

Well written and well spoke! I didn’t fast forward once! I felt as though I was right there in the moments and learned a ton!

VERY entertaining non fiction

Highly recommend this if you love non-fiction. About Truman Capote and his "Swans," socialites of the 50s and 60s. Full of glamor and cunning, these women climbed to the top of society--but many were ultimately unhappy once at the top. This parallels Capote's literary career. It was very entertaining--loved listening to it on auditable.