Party of the Century : The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball

In 1966, everyone who was anyone wanted an invitation to Truman Capote's ""Black and White Dance"" in New York, and guests included Frank Sinatra, Norman Mailer, C.Z. Guest, Kennedys, Rockefellers, and more. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings of the guests, this portrait of revelry at the height of the swirling, swinging sixties is a must for anyone interested in American popular culture and the lifestyles of the rich, famous, and talented.;Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1966; Chapter 1 -- A Lonely Boy; Chapter 2 -- Small Man, Big Dreams; Truman's Swans; Chapter 3 -- Romance and Sadness; Chapter 4 -- Babe Paley and High Society; Gloria; Chapter 5 -- In Cold Blood; Marella; Chapter 6 -- Truman and Kay; Slim; Chapter 7 -- Riding a Wave; Chapter 8 -- Dreaming of Masquerades; Chapter 9 -- Guest of Honor; Chapter 10 -- The In Crowd; Chapter 11 -- Making the List; Chapter 12 -- The Place to Be; Chapter 13 -- "Have You Heard?"; Chapter 14 -- How to Be Lovely; Chapter 15 -- Plumage; Chapter 16 -- The Clock Ticks.

In 1966, everyone who was anyone wanted an invitation to Truman Capote's "Black and White Dance" in New York, and guests included Frank Sinatra, Norman Mailer, C. Z. Guest, Kennedys, Rockefellers, and more. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings of the guests, this portrait of revelry at the height of the swirling, swinging sixties is a must for anyone interested in American popular culture and the lifestyles of the rich, famous, and talented.

Publishers Weekly

Truman Capote's legendary masked ball, at New York City's Plaza Hotel on November 28, 1966, was a hyped-up media event meticulously masterminded by the self-promoting, social-climbing author of In Cold Blood. Davis (Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X) dishes up the menu, the decor, the outfits and the guest list of 540, clueing the reader in to how Capote dangled the prized invitations for months, snubbing early supporters like Carson McCullers as he determined who was "in" and who was "out." In choosing his guest of honor, Capote eschewed glamorous "swans" like Babe Paley and Marella Agnelli in favor of "dowdy" Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham. Actress Candice Bergen was bored at the ball; Capote's elevator man danced the night away with a woman who didn't know his pedigree; and Norman Mailer sounded off about Vietnam. This frothy effort retreads ground already covered by Gerald Clarke, George Plimpton and Sally Bedell Smith, among others. Black-and-white photos have frozen the beautiful people of the '60s in all their preening glory, and readers also get to see the invitation and the fashion sketches of the elaborate masks and headdresses created by Halston and Adolfo. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

An enthralling look at the most celebrated party of the 1960s. 1966 was the year of Truman Capote. Flush with the success of In Cold Blood, the acclaimed writer decided to throw a masked ball in honor of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham at New York's Plaza Hotel. Everybody who was anybody wanted to be there; Capote boasted that he'd invited 500 friends but made 15,000 enemies-those who weren't invited. The glittering roster of guests included everyone from newlyweds Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow to gorgeous young star Candice Bergen to sparring literary lions Norman Mailer and William F. Buckley ... from international crowned heads to assorted Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Whitneys. In this vivid and delightful narrative, Deborah Davis chronicles the frenzied preparation and anticipation leading up to the party and, in fascinating detail, captures the drama and excitement of the ball itself. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and facsimiles of the guest list, menus, masks, and other memorabilia, this portrait of revelry at the height of the swirling and swinging sixties will be the book of the season for anyone interested in American popular culture and the lifestyles and legacies of the rich, famous, and talented A look at acclaimed writer Truman Capote's most celebrated party of the 1960s, a masked ball in honor of Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham at New York's Plaza Hotel, is lavishly illustrated with photographs and facsimiles of the guest list, menus, masks, and other memorabilia.