‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ is the renowned book that was turned into the iconic movie starring Audrey Hepburn. The original typed manuscript of the book by Truman Capote is being offered for auction by RR Auctions along with a range of Hollywood themed items and memorabilia. The manuscript has been valued at about $250,000 and will be way ahead of memorabilia autographed by James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Judy Garland and Lucille Ball. It is rarely that you come across such awe inspiring items at auctions. It is the final working draft manuscript with all its 84 pages of high quality goldenrod yellow paper copiously annotated throughout by author Truman Capote.
Capote Has Even Deleted Some Superfluous Paragraphs
There are notations and corrections on every page by the author. There are several pages which have as many as 30 corrections. The book on offer for auction is a complete package as it also includes the original, hand stenciled title page design, “About the Author†page, colophon, dedication, “other works by,†content, and half-title pages—topped off by the original Random House mailing label addressed to Capote’s Brooklyn residence. There are stamps of three different dates, namely June 27, August 5 and August 20, 1958. Capote has even deleted several superfluous paragraphs. Even the words he has changed could give a lesson to writers as more often than not they add a new meaning to the text.
The Name of the Heroine Has Been Changed from Connie Gustafson to Holly Golightly
The most revealing change in the manuscript, however is the change of his heroine’s name from Connie Gustafson to the now famous Holly Golightly. The change in name is hand noted by Capote over 150 times in the entire manuscript. Capote’s close friend George Plimpton had said that the novel was conceptualized in 1949 itself but could be officially completed only in spring 1958. The story was supposed to go to Harper’s Bazaar but was pulled out at the last moment because of changes in the editorial department. The book was finally released by Random House in October 1958. Esquire serialized the novella the following month and saw an unprecedented increase in its sales.
Via: pursuitist
