Such Good Friends
A Novel of Truman Capote & Lee Radziwill
by Stephen Greco
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Pub Date May 23 2023 | Archive Date Jun 06 2023
Kensington Books | A John Scognamiglio Book
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Description
“Fans of Capote and the era of Camelot should be delighted.” —Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor
“A rollicking ride that’s equal parts gossip, tenderness and emotional truth.” - Janet Somerville, The Toronto Star
A must-read for fans of Truman Capote and Jackie Kennedy, this star-studded, evocative novel revels in the glamor, gossip, and casual betrayal of 1960s and ’70s high society New York and the socialite “swans” that ruled this scandalous world.
On a Thursday morning in May 1961, a well-mannered twenty-one-year-old named Marlene enters the Fifth Avenue apartment of Lee Radziwill to interview for the position of housekeeper and cook. The stylish wife of London-based Prince Stanislaw Radziwill, Princess Lee is intelligent and creative, with ambitions beyond simply jet-setting. But to the public, she is always First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s little sister.
As Marlene becomes a trusted presence in the Radziwill household, she observes the dazzling array of famous figures who flit in and out of Lee’s intimate circle, including Gloria Vanderbilt, Rudolf Nureyev, Jackie and the President, Ari Onassis, Gore Vidal, Andy Warhol, and, most regularly, celebrated author Truman Capote. At the height of his fame following the success of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman has granted Lee place of honor in his flock of glamorous socialite “swans.”
Their closeness stems from an unexpected kinship. Both know too well the feeling of being second-best. Seeing his shadow in the woman he refers to as his most unconventional swan, Truman uses his influence and talent to try and make Lee a star.
Their bond deepens through the decade’s extraordinary events, from JFK’s assassination to the era-defining Black and White Ball. But Marlene, who Truman has taken under his wing as an aspiring writer, can see Truman’s darker side—especially his penchant for mining his friends’ private lives for material. And there are betrayals on either side that may signal the end not just of a friendship, but of the shared expectation that wealth and fame can shield against every heartbreak.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781496737441 |
PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 416 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
SUCH GOOD FRIENDS bubbles with effervescence. Greco invites the reader along as Marlene becomes a trusted confidant of Truman Capote and Lee Radziwill.
The first person narration puts us in Marlene's shoes so that we witness firsthand the glamorous comings and goings of this wealthy set in New York, Washington, Palm Beach, and international society.
As the novel progresses, a sparkling array of famous (and infamous) people waltz onto the scene, including Jackie and JFK, Babe Paley, Gore Vidal, and Andy Warhol. The author does a good job of bringing these figures to life on the page.
Spanning decades, the action reaches a climax with Capote's Black and White Ball as alliances strengthen and betrayals fester.
By the end of the novel, Marlene discovers a surprising secret about her own past that casts the previous years in a new light..