Title: Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century
Author: Roseanne Montillo
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: November 1, 2022
Page Count: 320
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Read book blurb here
Roseanne Montillo compares and contrasts the lives of Ann Woodward and Truman Capote; each came from broken small-town families and viewed New York City as their salvation, but for each it ultimately brought tragedy,
The phrase "More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones" is central to both Ann and Truman's lives. Montillo carefully lays out Ann Woodward's dirt-poor life in Kansas and her heroic efforts to move to New York City, improve herself with acting lessons, vocal lessons to strip away her midwestern accent, and to do whatever was needed to land a rich husband. Ann succeeded beyond her dreams, marrying old money Billy Woodward in 1943. But Ann soon realizes she is despised by her mother-in-law and ridiculed by the society women she envies - she will never be enough, and no one will let her forget this.
Truman grew up in a small southern town, unwanted by his parents and raised by his maiden aunts and assorted relatives. Truman's mother Lille Mae viewed New York City as her salvation and soon found a new husband, bringing Truman to live with them when he was 10. Small, determined, profoundly cruel (Truman once said about himself, "I am about as tall as a shotgun, and just as nasty") Truman worked hard for his fame, first known as an exceptional short-story writer, and writing Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and the classic In Cold Blood, the first true crime non-fictional novel.
And at the pinnacle of his fame, Capote famously releases one chapter of his long-awaited novel Answered Prayers - a gossipy, nasty chapter entitled La Côte Basque 1965. Ann Woodward commits suicide rather than be subjected to yet another round of hatred, and Truman Capote commits social suicide, effectively shunned by the whole of NY society.
Where the book drags a bit is in the telling of Ann's story. Much is left to speculation (it is mentioned numerous times that Ann and Billy Woodward's father may have had an affair and that Billy was bisexual but this is left unexplored) and one never really gains any insight into Ann, beyond the superficial and shallow. Overall, 4 stars for an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.