Introduction:
Truman Capote, one of America’s more vibrant literary personalities, was born in New Orleans in 1924 and died in California in 1984. His literary works include both fiction and non-fiction – short stories, novels, travel writing, memoirs, reportage, plays and films. He is fondly remembered and well-known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Capote’s masterpiece, In Cold Blood spawned a whole new genre of writing—literary journalism and creative non-fiction. 

Capote read the write-up about the brutal murder of a family in Kansas and decided to visit the town and find out what took place. He began his research before the murderers were caught and sentenced to death. Capote lived in the town and thus gained the trust of the townspeople and the murderers too. Capote spent six years of his life on this book. 

In Cold Blood, a true-crime novel shocked the otherwise gentile literary world for how graphically it described the murders and the violent acts. Capote has attacked the story like a reporter, extensively interviewing everyone, from the detectives to the boyfriend, who was the only suspect.

Finally, Capote gained access to the real killers, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, and followed them from the conception of the act through the punishment which was death by hanging. 
Analysis:

In Cold Blood, read like a novel, with a plot line, vivid scenes, great characterization and good dialogue. Most important of it all, is the way in which Capote has presented the thoughts of the characters in the book. He has also interwoven in the book various themes like abandonment, homosexuality, loneliness and reversal of child / adult roles. 

Capote has used some excellent writing techniques in this book. This makes the book seem more appealing than the usual ones and also more tighter and compact.

Fictional skill: It is very difficult to actually say whether this book is fiction or non-fiction. The thread that distinguishes these two is very thin, in this book especially. Capote gives us “clues” like those in a mystery novel. Thus compelling the reader to stay and read on. Symbolism is another characteristic feature of this book.  This is evident when he describes Dick’s face and Perry’s legs as “twisted”.

Building-up Skill: Capote does not begin the book with the actual murder itself. Instead he gives the reader a view of the Clutters as people, not just impersonal victims. He gives the readers a chance to get to know the family better and even like them before they are brutally murdered.

Capote has beautifully built the plot and has reached a crescendo towards the end. He did not describe the murder of the Clutter family at the point in time it occurred but he gives the details during Perry’s confession. 
Characterization: Capote has portrayed little details about the Clutters, Perry, Dick and Dewey and this makes it seem real to the reader. Scenes like --Herb crunching an apple for breakfast, Nancy helping her neighbor bake her first cherry pie, Perry’s dream of becoming a show-stopping entertainer, Mrs. Clutter’s fascination with miniatures—these are some of the things that leaves an ever-lasting impact on the mind of the reader.

Capote has bought to light the complexities of human nature by learning and sharing with the reader the motivation of these two murders. The reader is definitely mortified by the murders, yet there is something close to pity that one feels for Perry and Dick. 

In Cold Blood stands out as a truly thrilling novel. The story is made all the more interesting because it is true and it deals with real people, real-life dreams, problems and personalities. The reader connects with the Clutters because of the vivid details about their lives that Capote utilizes in his writing.

It is interesting however to see that Capote maintained to remain objective throughout the book. His opinions on the killers are non-biased, not making the pair appear like low-life but as people who have committed a grave mistake in their lives. He portrays them as humans with aspirations and broken dreams. 

Conclusion:
Reading In Cold Blood, is like being privy to a secret no one else knows and never being able to tell it. This compelling page-turner is a true masterpiece of creative non-fiction. 

-LKS

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