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First and Last
Contains two short stories that trace the course of a great writer's life and his relationship with New York: 'Master Misery' (an early story) and 'La Cote Basque' (part of his scandalous and unfinished final novel).
90 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Truman Capote
346 books7,295 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 20, 2024
La Côte Basque –4,5*
‘A worldly woman and a beautiful young man who travel together with death as their common lover and companion. Don’t you think Henry James could have done something with that? Or Uncle Willie?’
‘No. It’s too corny for James, and not corny enough for Maugham.’
“Master Misery” é um dos primeiros contos de Truman Capote e “La Côte Basque” seria o ponto de partida do seu último romance, “Súplicas Atendidas”, e são dois textos que não podiam estar mais nos antípodas um do outro. O primeiro é melancólico e terno, com personagens marginais e no limite da pobreza, enquanto o segundo é divertido e ácido, passado num restaurante da alta-roda frequentado por celebridades. O que une as histórias é a alma: Sylvia e Oreilly parecem tê-la vendido através dos seus sonhos a Mr. Revercomb (atente-se no nome) por uns tostões, enquanto a galeria de colunáveis que passa e que é mencionada no Côte Basque parece nunca tê-la tido ou trocado sem hesitação por uma vida de luxo. “La Côte Basque” parece uma revista de mexericos, onde Capote lança farpas em todas as direções, mencionando nomes como Charlie e Oona Chaplin, Gloria Vanderbilt, Cole Porter, a família Kennedy, J.D. Salinger... Se o romance tivesse sido terminado e publicado, seria decerto ainda mais escandaloso mas sem dúvida delicioso, porque Truman Capote era um escritor extraordinário, ainda que fosse vampiresco nas suas relações pessoais.
Master Misery –5*
And now she believed it; it was true, and she had sold Mr. Revercomb a dream. Could it be really as simple as that? (...) If she were to sell a dream only twice a week, think of what she could do: a place somewhere all her own.
‘A worldly woman and a beautiful young man who travel together with death as their common lover and companion. Don’t you think Henry James could have done something with that? Or Uncle Willie?’
‘No. It’s too corny for James, and not corny enough for Maugham.’
“Master Misery” é um dos primeiros contos de Truman Capote e “La Côte Basque” seria o ponto de partida do seu último romance, “Súplicas Atendidas”, e são dois textos que não podiam estar mais nos antípodas um do outro. O primeiro é melancólico e terno, com personagens marginais e no limite da pobreza, enquanto o segundo é divertido e ácido, passado num restaurante da alta-roda frequentado por celebridades. O que une as histórias é a alma: Sylvia e Oreilly parecem tê-la vendido através dos seus sonhos a Mr. Revercomb (atente-se no nome) por uns tostões, enquanto a galeria de colunáveis que passa e que é mencionada no Côte Basque parece nunca tê-la tido ou trocado sem hesitação por uma vida de luxo. “La Côte Basque” parece uma revista de mexericos, onde Capote lança farpas em todas as direções, mencionando nomes como Charlie e Oona Chaplin, Gloria Vanderbilt, Cole Porter, a família Kennedy, J.D. Salinger... Se o romance tivesse sido terminado e publicado, seria decerto ainda mais escandaloso mas sem dúvida delicioso, porque Truman Capote era um escritor extraordinário, ainda que fosse vampiresco nas suas relações pessoais.
Master Misery –5*
And now she believed it; it was true, and she had sold Mr. Revercomb a dream. Could it be really as simple as that? (...) If she were to sell a dream only twice a week, think of what she could do: a place somewhere all her own.
February 5, 2021
I have to admit that even though I am only a few titles in to the penguin60 series I am enjoying the variety of books which I guess is partly due to the fact these are not books I would usually seek out to read.
Take for example this book by Truman Capote which contains two stories the first about a woman who sells her dreams and the second an exercise in gossip and snatched conversations from a celebrity focused restaurant in during the heyday of cinema.
Both stories presenting a world long gone but still (for the most part) fondly looked back upon. These stories no doubt have contributed to imagery of contemporary America and how the world and itself perceives itself. These stories are part of a bigger body of work and yes give a lingering vision of the world Capote obviously loves to write about.
Take for example this book by Truman Capote which contains two stories the first about a woman who sells her dreams and the second an exercise in gossip and snatched conversations from a celebrity focused restaurant in during the heyday of cinema.
Both stories presenting a world long gone but still (for the most part) fondly looked back upon. These stories no doubt have contributed to imagery of contemporary America and how the world and itself perceives itself. These stories are part of a bigger body of work and yes give a lingering vision of the world Capote obviously loves to write about.
August 1, 2016
Two short stories, although I gather the second is an excerpt, published as a Penguin 60.
The first, Mastery Misery is a story of dreams sold by the main character - set up in New York seeking her fortune, who finds better money in selling dreams than working for a living - somewhat of a fantasy / horror story - hold onto your dreams kids...
The second, La Cote Basque is a fragmentary story of celebrities and gossip in a high end restaurant - some told, some overhead, and all accompanied by Cristal. Names of real people are included, which I guess is the scandal - is it biographical or just slanderous? Published after the death of the author.
Well written, in two very different styles, and as noted in the blurb at different ends of Capote's career.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 star for me. Feeling generous, so 4 it is.
The first, Mastery Misery is a story of dreams sold by the main character - set up in New York seeking her fortune, who finds better money in selling dreams than working for a living - somewhat of a fantasy / horror story - hold onto your dreams kids...
The second, La Cote Basque is a fragmentary story of celebrities and gossip in a high end restaurant - some told, some overhead, and all accompanied by Cristal. Names of real people are included, which I guess is the scandal - is it biographical or just slanderous? Published after the death of the author.
Well written, in two very different styles, and as noted in the blurb at different ends of Capote's career.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 star for me. Feeling generous, so 4 it is.
January 12, 2026
This was a very short read, although I do like the style of Truman Capote. He captures so well that essence of the upperclass, manhattanite, the New Yorker of the films and our public imagination. The ones who go to the balls and are debutantes and associate themselves only with high class society. Though of course there is still much scandal to be sure. This was in many ways, a refreshing break from the other novels I have been reading and a welcome accompanyment to the non-fiction. Certainly breaking up the tone of that which has helped with it's enjoyment. It was a fair bus companion, quick to read and entertaining while at it.
June 18, 2020
It’s taken me years to read any Capote and now I find this year I’ve already read three of his stories. I find him extremely readable and these short works are no exception.
The first is something of an American gothic while the second sums up sic transit gloria mundi better than almost anything, though I don’t think that was the intention.
Effortlessly cool.
The first is something of an American gothic while the second sums up sic transit gloria mundi better than almost anything, though I don’t think that was the intention.
Effortlessly cool.
September 10, 2025
First story was unfocused, but had an ok message. The second one had better prose, but I kept waiting for the punchline to be "The aristocrats!" All in all not bad for a book I found by the side of the road.
October 9, 2021
The last was from an unfinished novel, which from this short story seems like it could have been intriguing from a social elitest gossip style.
January 21, 2023
Interesting choice putting these two pieces and only these two into a single slim book. Nevertheless certainly a wonderful writer.
January 22, 2024
Both stories were dark, but with enough humour and personality-filled characters to be strangely fun.
March 28, 2014
Truman Capote registers in my literary consciousness as one of the first writers of sensationally successful non-fiction (IN COLD BLOOD), strengthened by the biopic with Philip Seymour Hoffman. These two shorter fictional prose pieces are therefore interesting. In the first (from early in his career) he tells of a young woman who - like thousands before and after - came to The Big Apple in search of her fortune. Her attempt is not particularly successful and she starts selling her dreams to an unusual buyer, who is never introduced directly to the reader. A brief fantasy, essentially, warning one not to let go of one's dreams. The second piece is from an unfinished novel, called 'scandalous' in the blurb. The narrator and Lady Ina lunch in a famous restaurant, encircled by celebrities. They share gossip and overhear stories told by other patrons. The scandalous aspect is that Capote writes about real people, like Jacky Kennedy and Orson Welles, to mention but two. Does he tell the truth? Does he tap into his own well of real-life gossip? Does he create stories to entertain, though not to malign? Yes, it seems loose and rambling, unstructured - but essentially it is also a collections of stories about lost dreams. The pair therefore fit each other perfectly.
In hierdie twee verhale oor verlore drome, een uit die begin van sy loopbaan, die tweede uit 'n onvoltooide roman, gevul met skandalige skinnerstories, demonstreer Capote sy waarnemingsvermoë wat hom ook as niefiksieskrywer gewild gemaak het.
In hierdie twee verhale oor verlore drome, een uit die begin van sy loopbaan, die tweede uit 'n onvoltooide roman, gevul met skandalige skinnerstories, demonstreer Capote sy waarnemingsvermoë wat hom ook as niefiksieskrywer gewild gemaak het.
February 13, 2009
The first piece here, "Master Misery", is a dark little fantasy story about a man who buys dreams. It wouldn't be out of place today in McSweeney's or PostScripts, but it didn't really have any surprises or anything particularly profound to say.
The second piece, "La Cote Basque" is an extract from an unfinished novel, published years after Capote's death. It's a series of scandalous tales about real people (Joe Kennedy, Princess Margaret, Jackie Kennedy and so on) from the 1960s told by ladies sitting in a restaurant. It's interesting gossip, but a dull story.
In the week that Prince Harry has been reported as saying to a black comedian, "You don't sound like a black chap", it was interesting to read Capote's words on the British royal family: "basically, royals think that there are just three categories: colored folk, white folk, and royals". Everything changes in the end, but some things change very slowly!
The second piece, "La Cote Basque" is an extract from an unfinished novel, published years after Capote's death. It's a series of scandalous tales about real people (Joe Kennedy, Princess Margaret, Jackie Kennedy and so on) from the 1960s told by ladies sitting in a restaurant. It's interesting gossip, but a dull story.
In the week that Prince Harry has been reported as saying to a black comedian, "You don't sound like a black chap", it was interesting to read Capote's words on the British royal family: "basically, royals think that there are just three categories: colored folk, white folk, and royals". Everything changes in the end, but some things change very slowly!
September 25, 2012
So I've started collecting these mini penguins - the 60s, 70s and pocket modern classics. They are perfect for reading on the back of my motorbike ride to work, giving me up to an extra 9 hours' reading time a week (weather permitting)
Only 2 short stories in this little book. I really liked the first, 'Mastery Misery', well-written and eerily disconcerting. A tale of loneliness, fear and lost or rather sold dreams.
The second piece, 'La Cote Basque' however, was just a collection of rambling shared and overheard gossip by lady socialites at a trendy restaurant one evening. A few interesting pieces but overall pretty dull. I feel when Capote goes in this direction he fails to find cohesion and there is no real story, just some statements about the mindsets and private lives of the social elite.
Only 2 short stories in this little book. I really liked the first, 'Mastery Misery', well-written and eerily disconcerting. A tale of loneliness, fear and lost or rather sold dreams.
The second piece, 'La Cote Basque' however, was just a collection of rambling shared and overheard gossip by lady socialites at a trendy restaurant one evening. A few interesting pieces but overall pretty dull. I feel when Capote goes in this direction he fails to find cohesion and there is no real story, just some statements about the mindsets and private lives of the social elite.
August 5, 2010
The first story, Master Misery is the old selling soul to devil tale, although this time it's dreams for cash. Well written, but I've read so many versions of this before it felt done.
Second story, La Cote Basque was much better - a great critique of New York jet set, shockingly Capote's friends featuring heavily.
Second story, La Cote Basque was much better - a great critique of New York jet set, shockingly Capote's friends featuring heavily.
February 19, 2015
เรื่องสั้นสองเรื่องของ Truman Capote เพิ่งเคยได้อ่านงานของเค้าเนี่ยละ
Master Misery งานเขียนช่วงแรกๆเกี่ยวกับหญิงสาวที่บังเอิญได้ไป ขายความฝัน กับ La Cote Basque ส่วนนึงของนิยายเรื่องสุดท้ายที่เขียนไม่จบของเค้า
Master Misery งานเขียนช่วงแรกๆเกี่ยวกับหญิงสาวที่บังเอิญได้ไป ขายความฝัน กับ La Cote Basque ส่วนนึงของนิยายเรื่องสุดท้ายที่เขียนไม่จบของเค้า
April 5, 2016
3 stars for the the first story (Master Misery), a twilight zonish tale of the perils of dream peddlers of the 40s (I suppose--I'm not sure of the decade). 5 stars for his salacious unfinished last novel, La Cote Basque!
July 1, 2015
Always love his writing. Always.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews