Banned Books: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

In Holcomb, Kansas, on the morning of November 15, 1959, Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith murdered Herbert Clutter, his wife, Bonnie, his youngest daughter, Nancy and his only son, Kenyon. The two men, Dick and Perry, arrived at the Clutter residence, River Valley Farm, late on the night of November 14 on the verge of a big “score” where there would be no witnesses. They tied each member of the family’s hands and feet with Bonnie in her room on the second floor and Nancy in her own room on the second floor as well. Kenyon was found in the playroom in the home’s basement, while Herbert was found in the furnace room. Each member of the family was shot in the head with a shotgun. Herbert also had a slit throat. Their bodies were discovered hours later by members of their church congregation. The shock of their murders sent a ripple of fear and distrust through the town. Everyone wondered how such an upstanding member of the community and his family could be murdered in cold blood.

With this novel, Capote did an incredible job delivering the information and relaying what took place in Holcomb, Kansas that fateful night and the years after during not only the investigation but the inevitable trial and hanging. He examined, very thoroughly the lives of the Clutter family. Herbert, the loving father, devoted husband and respected, hardworking farmer. Bonnie, a once energetic woman, who now battled with bouts depression that would eventually lead her to withdrawing from the community. Nancy, a high school junior, extremely admired by all of her peers who had dreams of attending college. Kenyon, the last of the Clutter family, an energetic well respected young man. The lives taken all too soon with Herbert being the oldest at forty eight years old and Kenyon the youngest at fifteen. Lives taken by two men, recently released from jail, who were hoping to get a huge cash out from the Clutter family. Both delinquents in their own right who for different reasons ended up on the same path. A path ended by the hanging of the ropes around their necks.

In Cold Blood was a straight forward account of the murders that took place in 1959 and changed a county in Kansas. I was surprised by how detailed the information was provided in this novel. Capote used testimony, confessions, interviews and articles to accomplish a very in-depth account of what happened regarding all aspects of those involved in the Clutter family murders. There were instances throughout the novel where one can assume that Capote took liberty in divulging what may or not have happened, like private conversations between Dick and Perry, but based on the information provided regarding their character, everything stated was believable. The murder of the Clutter family was a horrifying ordeal that Capote was able to translate to page with all the anxious and terrifying detail he could honestly muster. I must say that there are moments, after I have finished reading a novel and I begin researching the reason why it was banned, that I become mildly amused. For instance, with this book I would assume that any reason for banning this book would come from the graphic details provided about the murder. Alas no, the reasons behind the banning of this book in Savannah, Ga in 2000 spawns from the sex, profanity and violence mentioned. Maybe it’s because Capote is an amazing writer, or maybe it’s because the murders were so horrific that I barely paid any attention to the sex mentioned or described. I definitely paid no attention to the profanity used throughout the novel because next to the text it seemed inconsequential. Mind you this was banned from an Advanced Placement English Class. A class where you would expect teenagers to want to be challenged. The ban was overruled a year later and rightfully so. Life consists of tragedy and this was an example of an unthinkable tragedy that did indeed happen and will forever affect the life and history of Holcomb, Kansas and the families affected. You can try to remove the information from schools but this non-fiction book simply relayed the facts of terrifying case.

http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics/reasons   Retrieved 5/20/2014