There are some works of crime fiction (and non-fiction) that just stand out. Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment (1866) is one. And Truman Capote’s most famous work right here is another.

In Cold Blood is an exceptional bit of writing. And a fine work of investigative journalism that remains one of the greatest pieces of literature from the 20th century.

First launched in 1966, it took seven years for the writer to piece together. During which time he became very involved in the story, speaking directly to the murderers involved. It all makes for a chilling account of a horrendous crime.

The Loss of the American Dream (and religion) Across Capote’s In Cold Blood

“It is no shame to have a dirty face- the shame comes when you keep it dirty. Imagination, of course, can open any door – turn the key and let terror walk right in. As long as you live, there’s always something waiting; and even if it’s bad, and you know it’s bad, what can you do? You can’t stop living.”

In Cold Blood tells the story of Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock with impartial verve. In 1959, the pair murdered a Kansas family whilst robbing their house.

It was a theft that only earned them an idiotically small amount of money.

After they were arrested and put on trial, Capote gained regular access to the murderers, visiting them in prison on numerous occasions.

It’s this element that allowed him to paint such a morbid picture of the two men behind this crime, making for a unique and intimate account of what played out.

Who were these men behind such a terrible murder? What were they like, what were they thinking? This is what In Cold Blood provides us with answers to—we get to know the killers.

And the work begins with this famous opening line.

“The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there.'”

There’s something about that opening line—it’s perfect. Creating a sense of isolation and how this area was cut off from the rest of the world. Idyllic in being that way (although not for much longer).

Of the killers, one of them turns out to be above average intelligence. But the stupid decisions they made led to the tragic circumstances that befell the family in 1959.

A terrible set of murders, for which they received death sentences. And remarked from incarceration to Capote such dark and disturbing explanations such as this.

“I thought that Mr. Clutter was a very nice gentleman. I thought so right up to the moment that I cut his throat.”

Capote spoke extensively with police chiefs and the local community as he pieced together In Cold Blood, gaining remarkable insights into a pointlessly brutal crime.

This went on for a long time too, with Capote becoming infatuated with events—it took seven years for the story to play itself out, Capote running himself ragged waiting for its conclusion (it would also be the last full book he wrote, despite it launching him to superstardom).

The emotional drain on its writer, which drove him to considerable distress, didn’t impact on the quality of the text.

An instant classic, the result is a candid exposé of a terrible crime; a disturbing look at the perpetrators and a detailed psychological examination behind a brutal event.

It’s compelling and absolutely one every single literary buff must read.

And one of the most interesting themes for us was the consideration on non-conformity. How the threat against society (normalcy) can seem so barbaric.

“There is considerable hypocrisy in conventionalism. Any thinking person is aware of this paradox; but in dealing with conventional people it is advantageous to treat them as though they were not hypocrites. It isn’t a question of faithfulness to your own concepts; it is a matter of compromise so that you can remain an individual without the constant threat of conventional pressures.”

Capote’s tone across the work is another fascinating aspect to it.

We’ve seen some literary critics describe the style as “objective”. This work, in particular, is written with the fact-driven style of journalism. And it lends itself very well in generating suspense behind the crime.

How it’s a true story makes the book resonate all the more.

From the writing style to the captivating account of two killers, plus the family they laid waste to, In Cold Blood is an essential literary masterpiece. And we think it’ll be lauded for generations to come.

In Cold Blood’s Film Adaptations

The book has become iconic in the literary world and has been subject to numerous movie adaptations. The best? In our opinion, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning performance in 2005’s Capote.

It’s a film about the writer’s struggles with completing the book. Hoffman’s performance was truly remarkable and he rightly claimed an Oscar for this portrayal.

Toby Jones also provided a great performance in Infamous (2006). It’s not as good as Capote, in our opinion, but still makes for an interesting watch.

Jones is another actor who completely nailed the Capote performance and resembles the writer more than Hoffman did. But the production isn’t as refined as the Bennett Miller directed 2005 effort.

Truman Capote Interviewed About In Cold Blood

Thanks to the wonders of 20th century technology, there are recorded interviews with Capote about his masterwork. The approach to his book was meticulous and landed an all-time classic.

A rare achievement for most writers.

The elegance of his writing across In Cold Blood is in stark contrast to the horrific crimes he explores. That contrast is yet another reason why the book was such a huge success.

It launched him to literary superstardom and he was viewed as the inventor of non-fiction novels as a genre.

What’s intriguing is Capote never did finish another major work. Although he did contribute short stories such as Mojave and La Cote Basque, 1965 to Esquire magazine. Those were published in 1975.

And short stories became the final flourishes for the rest of his life, with a collection published in 1980 called Music for Chameleons. And a gift book launched in 1983 called One Christmas.

He died aged 59 on 25th August 1984 from liver disease, an indication of his battles with alcoholism across his adult life.