December 20: A Christmas Memory

Truman Capote is considered a classic American writer and actor. Born in 1924 in New Orleans, he spent some years of his childhood in Monroeville, Alabama, with his mother’s family (he and Harper Lee, also from Monroeville, were good friends). He is best known for writing Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a novella later adapted into the classic film, and In Cold Blood, a true-crime novel. “A Christmas Memory” is one of Capote’s many short stories, published originally in 1956 in a magazine and then in 1958 along with Breakfast At Tiffany’s and two other short stories. 

Truman Capote
Image | Eric Koch / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons]

In “A Christmas Memory,” Capote brings to life his childhood Christmas experience, vibrantly and with humor. It’s a touching tribute to friendship, love, and gratitude. While so much has changed since the 1930s, much of the elements described in the story are relatable to today’s readers. To me, some of them feel uniquely and timelessly American: biscuits, hominy grits, tap dancing, and pecan trees. We often read this beautiful and bittersweet story as a family during Christmastime. 

You can listen to Truman Capote read “A Christmas Memory” in this video, which lasts 37 minutes. Best enjoyed with a slice of fruitcake or other holiday treat!

(An abridged version of the story is available as a segment from This American Life, about 20 minutes.)

Content warnings: death, subtle racism (from the ‘30s).