A Christmas Memory — By Truman Capote

"A holiday classic from one of the greatest writers and most fascinating society figures in American history" 

— Vanity Fair

All together now in a new, festive, keepsake edition, here are the three holiday stories that Truman Capote regarded as among his greatest works of short fiction: "A Christmas Memory," "One Christmas," and "A Thanksgiving Memory."

“A Christmas Memory” and “The Thanksgiving Visitor” were inspired by Capote’s early years with a family of distant relatives in rural Alabama. These two childhood tales pay loving tribute to an eccentric old-maid cousin, Miss Sook Faulk, who became Capote’s best friend.

In “A Christmas Memory,” Miss Sook, Buddy (the narrator), and their dog, Queenie, celebrate the yuletide in a hilariously tipsy state.

 In the poignant reminiscence “One Christmas,” six-year-old Buddy journeys to New Orleans for a reunion with his estranged father that shatters many illusions.

And in “The Thanksgiving Visitor,” Miss Sook invites an unexpected guest to the holiday meal: the school bully, Odd Henderson, whom Buddy calls “the meanest human creature in my experience.”

Distinguished by Capote’s delicate interplay of childhood sensibility and recollective vision, these three classic gems celebrate the unique bonds of friends and family, and together they make for an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship and the memories the two friends share of beloved holiday traditions.   

This special reissue edition is one you'll want to add to any Christmas or Capote collection.

THE DETAILS

Format: New, Hardcover

ISBN: 9780679602378

Published: November 12, 1996 - THIS IS A SPECIAL, NEW REISSUE IN 2024

Publisher: Modern Library / PenguinRandomHouse

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 5.06 inches W x 7.54 inches H x .60 inches D

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Truman Capote was a seminal figure in American literature celebrated for his captivating prose and pioneering contributions to both fiction and literary journalism. Capote’s career spanned decades, and his life and work turned him into a literary icon, recently featured in the FX anthology series, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. 

He was born September 30, 1924, in New Orleans. After his parents’ divorce, he was sent to live with relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. It was here he would meet his lifelong friend, the author Harper Lee, who wrote "To Kill A Mockingbird".

Capote rose to international prominence in 1948 with the publication of his debut novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms". Among his celebrated works are "Breakfast at Tiffany’s", "A Tree of Night", "The Grass Harp", "Summer Crossing", "A Christmas Memory" and "In Cold Blood", widely considered one of the greatest books of the twentieth century.

Twice awarded the O. Henry Short Story Prize, Capote was also the recipient of a National Institute of Arts and Letters Creative Writing Award and an Edgar Award. He died August 25, 1984, shortly before his sixtieth birthday.