The Unknown Anecdotes of Truman Capote

From November 1944 to September 1945, twenty-year-old Truman Capote contributed a satire and humor column to Reader's Scope, — a magazine founded by American communist Leverett Gleason (1898–1971). Capote never mentioned the title of the magazine, preferring to hide this experience behind general statements about working for a digest magazine. Why did he do so, and what circumstances compelled the aspiring novelist to take up literary hackwork at a digest magazine with a doubtful reputation? The article explores the little-known episode in Truman Capote’s biography. Previously unknown pieces by Capote add new satirical works to the writer's bibliography. The article for the first time presents in Russian short humoresques and anecdotes written by Truman Capote exclusively for Reader's Scope. The article analyzes their style and genre characteristics, and also gives as an example one of the feuilletons, which became a version of Capote’s famous short story “My Side of the Matter.” The article contains information about Leverett Gleason's magazine and biographical information on its founder, taken from the FBI case.