Truman Capote In Brooklyn – A Photo Story from 1959

David Attie's found photographs show us the writer and his city

“I live in Brooklyn. By choice”
– Truman Capote

 

Truman Capote Brooklyn

 

Truman Capote (1924–1984) put Brooklyn, New York, on the literary map when in 1959 he wrote the essay Brooklyn Heights, a Personal Memoir about his adopted home neighbourhood for Holiday magazine. David Attie (1920–1982) was Capote’s choice to take photos, illustrating the writer’s his life in the New York borough.

For several decades these photographs stored away in a box, until they were rediscovered by Attie’s son, Eli. Marked “Holiday, Capote, A3/58”, a manilla envelope was filled with the negatives and contact sheets from the Capote shoot.

 

Truman Capote Brooklyn

 

Capote lived in the basement apartment of 70 Willow Street from 1955 to 1965, renting the place here from Oliver Smith, who designed the Broadway sets for West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and On the Town. It’s where Capote completed his book Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

 

Truman Capote Brooklyn

Truman Capote Brooklyn
Truman Capote Brooklyn
Truman Capote Brooklyn

Via: Brooklyn Historical Society show Truman Capote’s Brooklyn: The Lost Photographs of David Attie,

Would you like to support Flashbak?

Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.