Truman Capote (born Truman Streckfus Persons, 30 September 1924 - 25 August 1984) was an American author, who made his mark with the classic novel Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and the true-crime case In Cold Blood (1965). Truman Capote graduated from high school in 1942, and embarked on a 60-year career as a writer. He wrote short stories, novels, and novellas, including The Grass Harp (1951) and reviewed films and books for publications such as The New Yorker and Harper’s Bazaar. His writing style was unique and earned him recognition from many literary circles, including the National Institute of Arts and Letters who awarded him the Howells Medal for fiction in 1960. In 1966, Capote released In Cold Blood, a groundbreaking non-fiction novel that helped to develop the genre of novel-like journalism. Over the course of his career, Capote also wrote scripts for Broadway plays, including A Christmas Memory (1966) and recorded original songs with composer André Previn in 1977. Truman Capote died on 25 August 1984 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 59. He left behind a legacy of journalism and novels, and is remembered for his wit and humor, both on and off the page.