Diane Selsor Edwards, a relative of the Clutter family who were the subjects of the book “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote, feels that Capote exploited the family (11/13, A1, “Put focus on the Clutters, not Capote”). She says he portrayed them as “cardboard figures” while sympathizing with the killers.
I understand her feeling of being exploited, especially by Capote, who seemed very interested in gleaning attention any way he could get it. As I read the book (twice over a 30-year period) I never felt sympathy for the murderers. In watching the two movies about Truman Capote, “Capote” and “Infamous,” I viewed the portrayal of Capote’s sympathy with the killers (especially Perry Smith) as a manipulation to gain their trust and get more information for his book
The Clutters’ story captured the injustice of their murder, and may help to keep memories of them from fading.
Glynda Wilson
Kansas City
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