In Cold Blood
Truman Capote1966
Capote invented the "nonfiction novel" — a true crime story told with the techniques of literary fiction.
true crimeEnglishaccessiblemedium · ~8.0h
Influence
7.0/10
Popularity
8.0/10
“I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat.”
Why It Matters
Capote invented the "nonfiction novel" — a true crime story told with the techniques of literary fiction. His account of the Clutter family murders in Kansas forced readers to empathize with both victims and killers. The book created the true crime genre as we know it and proved that journalism could be art.
Notable Quotes
“The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call 'out there.'”
“Imagination, of course, can open any door — turn the key and let terror walk right in.”