A Diamond Guitar A Diamond Guitar "A Diamond Guitar" is a short story by Truman Capote, first published in "Harper's Bazaar" in 1950; it is noted as one of his better quality early short stories. The title refers to the prize possession of the younger man, a rhinestone-studded guitar; the guitar serves as the key image of the story. Capote wrote "A Diamond Guitar" in April 1950 during a three-week-long transatlantic freighter crossing from New York to Italy. It is one of three short stories normally published in the same volume as "Breakfast at Tiffany's", first released in 1958. The story is set
Truman Capote was sorting cartoons and clipping newspapers. Still, I was fortunate to have it, especially since I was determined never to set a studious foot inside a college classroom. I felt that either one was or wasn't a writer, and no combination of professors could influence the outcome. I still think I was correct, at least in my own case." He left his job to live with relatives in Alabama and began writing his first novel, "Summer Crossing". Capote based the character of Idabel in "Other Voices, Other Rooms" on his Monroeville neighbor and best friend, Harper Lee. Capote once acknowledged