Author Biography & Ethical Appeal Truman Capote was born on September 30, 1924 and died on August 25, 1984. During his lifetime, he was well known for his non-fiction novels, short stories, acting, and plays. Truman Capote received his education from Greenwich High School. He began working as a copyboy for the New Yorker magazine, which later on led to his success in his short stories such as the “Miriam”. During his career, Truman Capote had become extremely interested in crime and the origins of homicidal mentality. In 1959, Capote read a column in the newspaper that mentioned the investigation of the four murders in Kansas. From this column, he became motivated to write an account of a true murder case. The information in the novel is very credible considering the amount of research that the author performed.
Synopsis of In Cold Blood & Author’s Subject & Purpose
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The novel began on November 14, 1959 on the Clutter farm in Holcomb, Kansas. On the Clutter farm, Herbert Clutter, the father and his family continued their daily work; unaware that it would be their last day. Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, both ex-convicts were preparing their black Cadillac for long drive down to the Clutter farm. Hickock and Smith arrived late at night and were unable to find the fortune that they were informed about in prison by Floyd Wells. Instead, they tied down each family member in separate rooms in the house and shot them with their gun. The Clutter family was known as the most protected and honorable family in the town and this event led to paranoia and chaos within Holcomb. The intended audience for the novel was the criminal justice system and others interested in the case. It was written to inform others that people who have a traumatic past are prone to acting out and making mistakes. He wanted to give a different perspective of people who have committed