Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019
A dazzling debut about Truman Capote, the literary icon of his age, and the beautiful, wealthy, vulnerable women he called his Swans.
To the outside world, they were the icons of high society — the most glamorous and influential women of their age. To Truman Capote they were his Swans: the ideal heroines, as vulnerable as they were powerful. They trusted him with their most guarded, martini-soaked secrets, each believing she was more special and loved than the next…
Until he betrayed them.
‘Writers write. And one can’t be surprised if they write what they know.’
About the Author
Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott was born and raised in Houston, Texas, before coming to call Los Angeles and London her adopted homes. She is a graduate of UEA’s Creative Writing MA course and was the winner of the Bridport Prize Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award. Swan Song is her first novel.
Industry Reviews
A rich, sharp, sting of a book. It made me laugh and grimace and pity monsters. I'm still smiling about it -- Stu Turton, bestselling author of THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE
Brilliantly captures Capote's acid wit and his dramatic downfall. * The Times BOOKS OF THE YEAR *
As deliciously gossipy as it is wretched, and Greenberg-Jephcott's unique rendering of Capote's squealing drawl of a voice is unforgettable. -- Frankie McCoy * Evening Standard BOOKS OF THE YEAR *
Gorgeous... That glittering world - all Dom Perignon, Sobranies, Quaalude and Chanel - is recreated with a lovely eye for detail -- Robbie Millen * The Times *
Since reading the totally, totally beautiful Swan Song, I have two new hobbies. Googling photos of Barbara Paley and watching videos of the Camel Walk. -- Dolly Alderton
A sparkling debut vividly captures the high society women who punished Capote for his indiscreet reporting * The Guardian *
A dazzlingly assured first novel... This clever book, with the moreish astringency of a negroni, is a perfect summer cocktail * The Sunday Times *
A completely fascinating novel and a marvellously skillful re-imagining of real people, times and places. Outstanding. -- William Boyd
This is a first novel of extraordinary skill, a book of which Capote would have been proud -- Alex Preston * The Observer *
If a writer is going to craft a novel from well-known events, they might as well do it with brio, which this has in spades... A skilled and sparking debut -- Suzi Feay * Guardian *
