About this episode
The episode explores Truman Capote's time in Palamós and his reflections on Marilyn Monroe's career.
It’s been a while since I have sailed to Palamós, still a small fishing town in 1962, where Truman Capote sought refuge for three semesters—always escorted by his obliging life partner Jack Dunphy and various pets—alternated with his cottage in Verbier, at the top of the Swiss Alps. In Cala Sènia, a secluded Mediterranean cove, the American author found the necessary peace, far away from New York’s social life. The fishermen went out to sea in the wee hours, causing such a ruckus that, according to Capote, not even Rip van Winkle could sleep through it, and that helped to keep a rigorous writer’s schedule for his most accomplished manuscript, In Cold Blood . Local old-timers who met Truman still recalled him doing his errands–two bottles of gin, dry vermouth, and olives for his martinis—the sad day that Marilyn Monroe had tragically overdosed. He was at the newsstand reading the headlines, and with that high-pitched lisping voice I cannot even dare to mimic, because it’s way beyond my range, Truman moaned, “My lady friend died!” He had badly wanted her for the role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s . But Paula Strasberg, her acting coach, deemed it inappropriate for…
People in this episode
Host: Javier Truben
Topics covered
- Truman Capote
- Marilyn Monroe
- literary history
- film casting
- 1960s culture
- writing process
Keywords
- Truman Capote
- Marilyn Monroe
- In Cold Blood
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- 1962
- Palamós
- film casting
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: In Cold Blood, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Places: Palamós, Verbier, Cala Sènia, New York
More episodes of Don't You Dare To Think Out Loud!
- The Death of the Author · May 9, 2026 · 8 min
- The Uncanny Wordsmith · December 29, 2025 · 4 min
- Froth on the Daydream · November 13, 2025 · 10 min
- Half rant, half rendition · November 5, 2025 · 8 min
- The Substance · November 2, 2025 · 10 min
- Soda Mill Studio · October 26, 2025 · 4 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Don't You Dare To Think Out Loud! podcast page.