The True Story of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Ryan Murphy Feud: Capote vs. Swans follows the real-life drama between writer Truman Capote and his group of socialite friends, whom he calls the Swans.

The eight-episode limited series — premiering January 31 — is based on the best-selling book Capote’s Wives: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and the Swan Song of an Age written by Laurence Leamer. The Swans, which included socialites Barbara “Babe” Paley, Nancy “Slim” Keith, CZ Guest and Lee Radziwill, were thick as thieves, regularly seen together at some of the era’s most prominent parties. Capote and Swans were major names in high society in the 1960s and 1970s, and the author’s entire personality centered on his role in the celebrity community.

“He courted the richest and most elegant women in the world,” Leamer told PEOPLE of Capote in 2021. “He decided he was going to write a book about them. He intended to learn all he could about them in a certain number of years. years, and then write a masterpiece.”

However, things go awry between Swans and Capote when an expert from his unfinished novel, Answered prayers, was published in 1975, and although “fictionalized”, the chapter contained the real secrets of the women in his life, including infidelity and accusations of murder. It was easy to tell which character should play which Swan, and ultimately, betrayal would follow Capote for the rest of his life.

Gone are the days when it was lived at high society parties. Capote was eventually kicked out of the community he once lived in and lost his friends, his lifestyle, and his success as a writer.

FX’s Feud: Capote vs Swans features Tom Hollander as the legendary author and an all-star cast of Swans including Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Demi Moore, Calista Flockhart and Molly Ringwald. The series also marks the last project of the late Treat Williams.

All glamorous Feud: Capote vs. Swans Photos from the red carpet premiere

From integrating into New York high society to the project that will cause his death, the true story behind Feud: Capote vs. Swans is caught. Here’s everything you need to know about Truman Capote, The Swans, and the author’s deepest secrets about his friends.

Who was Truman Capote?

Truman Capote in the mid-1960s. ; Tom Hollander as Truman Capote in ‘Feud: Capote vs. Swans’.

Bettmann; Pari Duković/FX

Capote was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 30, 1924 to Lillie Mae Faulk and Archulus Persons. After his mother abandoned him at a young age, he was raised by his aunts and cousins ​​in Alabama. There he befriended a neighbor, Harper Lee, who would eventually become a writer To kill a mockingbird.

However, the young Capote would be reunited with his mother and her new husband, Joe Capote, when he went to live with her in New York as a teenager. He loved writing from an early age and became serious enough about the craft that after leaving high school he quickly found work in The New Yorker at only 17 years old.

His stories caught the eye of publishers, and his two greatest creations, In cold blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, became not only successful novels but also acclaimed films. When writing Breakfast at Tiffany’sCapote immersed himself in the life of high society. As he was seen at all the best parties and gatherings, he claimed to be considering a novel, but his life in the spotlight will continue long after he puts down his pen.

Capote was drawn to the lives of the rich and famous, and became close friends with the group that would become the Swans. However, his career aspirations would deprive him of his status in high society.

Look at the stars Feud: Capote vs. Swans Compared to the real life society they act out

Who were Capote’s swans?

CZ a guest at his oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, circa 1955; Chloe Sevigny as CZ guest in ‘Feud: Capote vs. Swans’. ; Lee Radziwell March 4, 1976 ; Calista Flockhart as Lee Radziwill in ‘Feud: Capote Vs. Swans’.

Slim Aarons/Hulton Archive/Getty; Pari Duković/FX; Bettmann; Pari Duković/FX

The Swans were a group of socialites in New York high society, including fashion darlings like Barbara “Babe” Paley (Naomi Watts), Nancy “Slim” Keith (Diane Lane) and CZ Guest (Chloë Sevigny), and even royalty like Lee Radziwill (Calista Flockhart).

Paley was the grande dame of the group and the wife of CBS founder William S. Paley (Treat Williams). She previously worked as a fashion editor for Vogue, Paley was a leading force in Manhattan’s elite from the 1950s to the 1970s. In 1958, she entered the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame. She continued her glamorous life until she died in 1974 of lung cancer.

A veteran of the high life, Keith was introduced to the social scene by Hollywood actor William Powell. She got her nickname “Slim” from her ex-husband, Warner Brothers mega-producer Howard Hawks — the man responsible for bringing Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart together. Keith was a member of Capote’s Swans, but left her relationship with the author in the 80s when she discovered the unflattering character of Lady Coolbirth in Answered prayers either about her.

Another fashion icon of the day, Guest was consistently on the best-dressed list, eventually making it into the Fashion Hall of Fame. She was a lover of horses, fashion and gardening and wrote a gardening book with an introduction by Capote. For decades, she was considered one of the best hostesses in the social circle, and was even the muse of Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí.

Finally, there was Radziwill, younger sister of former first lady Jackie Kennedy, who was married to Polish aristocrat Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill from 1959 to 1972.

From growing up with Jackie Kennedy to being a princess: Lea Radziwill’s life in photos

“Lee Radziwill was rich and deserved to be considered a swan. She was a beautiful woman,” Leamer, author of Capote’s WivesRadziwill, who died in 2019, told PEOPLE. “She was married to Prince Radziwill, the fallen prince of Poland; and she lived a totally glamorous life and Truman just loved her.”

The other swans were Ann Woodward (Demi Moore), Gloria Guinness, Marella Agnelli and Pamela Harriman, all of whom lived luxurious lives.

What caused their quarrel?

Capote and his Swans lived a glamorous life in New York high society, flying everywhere from the Hamptons in New York to Paris and Venice in Italy. Whether they were throwing a party, attending celebrity events or sailing on a yacht, they were the talk of the town.

However, Capote’s intentions changed. He began taking notes on the lives of his social friends, preparing to write a comprehensive novel called Answered prayers. Although the book remained unpublished, three excerpts—”La Côte Basque 1965,” “Unspoiled Monsters” and “Kate McCloud”—were printed in Esquire in the mid-1970s, and after the Swans read what their friend had written, the feud began.

What did Capote write about swans in his book for everyone?

Truman Capote and Barbara “Babe” Paley ca. 1957; Lee Radziwill and Truman Capote pose for the camera at the June 4, 1967 Emmy Awards.

ullstein image/ullstein image/Getty ; Bettmann

Capote discovered what really continued in the lives of his famous friends in “La Côte Basque 1965,” which was published in Esquire in November 1975. The story revolved around a group of high society women who live double lives, from marital affairs to family conflicts.

The story is supposedly about his closest friends, and Paley is at the center of the controversy. Some Swans were given pseudonyms in the published text, while others were given their real names.

Paley – who once considered Capote her closest confidante – was hit hard by the allegations made in his article. He wrote vividly about society catching her husband in bed with another woman.

He also created a character named Ann Hopkins, a gold digger who murdered her husband – indiscreetly accusing the real-life Swan Ann Woodward of murdering her husband, William Woodward Jr., who she shot in 1955 after mistaking him for a burglar, although the fatal shooting was declared an accident. (However, before the chapter was published, Woodward died by suicide).

Capote also wrote about Radziwill, claiming fellow Swans called her “unrefined, excessive”.

Basically, no Swan was safe from Capote’s wrath in his works.

what happened Answered prayers?

After the publication of “La Côte Basque 1965” in 1975, two more excerpts from Capote’s unfinished novel, Answered prayerswere published in Esquire: “Unspoiled Monsters” in May 1976 and “Kate McCloud” in December 1976.

However, when Capote died in 1984, the book manuscript also disappeared Answered prayers, although an unfinished version was published posthumously in the United States in 1987.

His friends hoped to find the manuscript, but many believed he never finished it. Joanne Carson (Molly Ringwald), Capote’s close friend, believed that the author had finished writing the book and hid it in a safe. She claimed he gave her the key, but never revealed the location of the alleged box.

In 2012, vanity fair revealed another unfinished chapter entitled “Yachts and Things”.

What happened to Truman Capote?

Truman Capote in the living room of his Upper Eastside apartment in 1980.

George Rose/Getty

It should come as no surprise that Capote’s relationship with the Swans never recovered — and his life was completely changed by his decision to publish a sweeping chapter. He became addicted to drugs, and by the late 1970s was in rehab.

“That’s when he became a social outcast,” Leamer told PEOPLE of Capote’s life after publishing his excerpts. “After that, he started drinking heavily and taking drugs and became scattered and never actually wrote what he could have written. The book never existed. He pretended to write it, but he didn’t.”

In 1984, Capote died of liver disease. He was 59 years old.

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