Recently discovered in the archives of the New York Public Library, these short stories give a rare new insight into the young Truman Capote, writing as an adolescent and a young man before he became one of the twentieth century's most celebrated literary voices. Spare yet heartfelt, witty yet raw, the stories in this collection display Capote's genius for creating unforgettable characters built of complexity and yearning. Capote was always drawn to outsiders - women, children, African Americans, the poor - because he felt like one himself from a very early age. Here we see Capote's powers of empathy developing as he depicts his characters struggling at the margins of their known worlds. A boy experiences the violence of adulthood when he pursues an escaped convict into the woods. Petty jealousies lead to a life-altering event for a popular girl at Miss Burke's Academy for Young Ladies. A woman fights to save the life of a child who has her lover's eyes. There are tales of crimes and violence; of racism and injustice; of poverty and despair.

And there are tales of generosity and tenderness; compassion and connection; wit and wonder. With a Foreword by the celebrated New Yorker critic Hilton Als, this volume of early stories is essential for understanding how a boy from Monroeville, Alabama, became a legend in American letters. 'One of the century's greatest storytellers.' Independent 'An unbridled genius. ' Los Angeles Times 'Truman Capote is the most perfect writer of my generation.' Norman Mailer 'There is a depth and clarity to his writing that captivates the reader.' Sunday Times 'A master writer . makes the heart sing and the narrative fly.

'' The New York Times.