My thoughts: I borrowed this
book from my local library in September.
This novel was an excellent surprise. I
loved both the very detailed and meticulous description of the jet-set of the
50s and 60s and the exquisite, funny dialogues. This novel is not a true story,
even though many of the facts it recounts are real. I think this is a very
feminine book, written by a woman for us women.
This is the story of the great fortunes
and great families of the 50s and 60s that made New York shine. It is mainly
focused on a small circle of women (swans) who became acquainted with Truman
Capote. Among these “swans”, ladies of high society, is Babe Paley. She
was an editor at Vogue and embodied the elegance of the era. She was the wife
of the founder of CBS.
Babe Paley is perfect; always beautiful,
always well dressed, always organised. Behind this sequin-studded life, in
reality hides an empty existence based on appearances. In this community,
people get married for a prestigious name, money and beautiful houses. There
are many “new rich” who are ready to do anything to be part of the famous
families: Astor, Vanderbilt, Whitney, etc...
So, that small circle of women friends,
nicknamed the Swans, befriend Truman Capote. Babe Paley, little by little,
enters into a platonic relationship with Truman. Through her contact with
Truman she finds a little thrill in her empty, lonely life. We follow the story
of platonic love between these two fragile beings, all the way to their sad
ends. Babe is serious, Truman is futile, she is married, he is gay, she is
reserved, he is exuberant.
Along the way, we learn of dirty tricks, pettiness
and deception, gossip, in short, a world where solid values have little place.