Truman Capote was an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor. Many of his short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized as literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "nonfiction novel."

He is regarded as one of the founders of New Journalism, alongside Gay Talese, Hunter S. Thompson, Norman Mailer, Joan Didion, and Tom Wolfe.

Capote had a troubled childhood, caused by his parents' divorce, a long absence from his mother, and multiple moves. He was planning to become a writer by the time he was eight years old. The critical success of "Miriam" (1945) attracted the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf, leading to a contract to write the novel Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948).

He achieved widespread acclaim with Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and the true crime novel In Cold Blood (1966), a journalistic work about the murder of a Kansas farm family in their home.

Capote's works and life have been adapted into and have been the subject of more than 20 films and television productions. In 1975, Capote revealed intimate details of several VIP ladies in his country in "La Côte Basque 1965", a chapter of his forthcoming novel Plegarias atendidas, leading to a social ostracism that worsened his emotional crises and addictions. After a long period of personal issues, Capote died in 1984, due to a drug-related intoxication.

His life and works continue to be celebrated, with adaptations such as the 2005 film Capote and the series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans airing in 2024.