How is "In Cold Blood" classified? As a novel or as non-fiction?

Question

I just saw the movie about Truman Capote and I wonder if this work is still considered to be an important literary piece. It seemed from the film that there is a fine line between creating a new hybrid form and just sloppy, lazy reporting.

And anyway, have all his writings, from Other Voices Other Rooms to Breakfast at Tiffany's all ended up on the trash heap of glitterati conceits?

Answer 1

It became known as the 1st "non-fiction novel". It's publication started a popular new way of writing true stories in the "novel" form.

Answer 2

Fred C. is right. In fact I believe that Capote himself invented the term non-fiction novel. It was a term that blew my mind at the time since it represented thinking way outside of the box. (By definition a novel is fiction, how can there be a non-fiction novel?)
I got over it.
His other works are hardly on the trash heap. Fairly recently a movie was made of "The Grass Harp." Not a very good movie, but representative of the fact people are still interested in his work.
I remember seeing him on The Tonight Show once. Johnny Carson was seldom nonplussed, but he had little idea of how to deal with Capote.

Answer 3

definite, the bible belongs in nonfiction, no longer because of the fact it incredibly is "actuality" yet on the grounds this is how we classify religious writings. It is going in the two hundred's, in the Dewey decimal gadget. human beings thoughts go in 398.2, because of the fact this is how that literature is classed. It would not make human beings thoughts actual. The Iliad and the Odyssey are additionally labeled in nonfiction, in the 800's in Literature. that would not make any of the thoughts actual.

Answer 4

It is non-fiction in the basic facts, but there is also some fiction mixed in, so perhaps historical fiction would be the best classification. It is, however, very rooted in what actually took place in this crime, so it is close to non-fiction ... still ...

Answer 5

It's fiction based on a true story.