“I <i>hate</i> snoops”: A Detective Fiction as Truman Capote’s Style

ABSTRACT Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s has traditionally been analyzed for its exploration of themes such as sexuality and identity. However, this thesis recontextualizes the novel within the framework of detective fiction, informed by Capote’s documented interest in the genre. The narrative, through its anonymous narrator, parallels the investigative approach of a detective, delving into the complexities of urban anonymity and the enigmatic character of Holly Golightly. Despite the absence of a conventional mystery or a formal detective figure, the novel incorporates structural and thematic elements typical of detective fiction. This reinterpretation posits that Capote’s narrative techniques and stylistic choices are intentionally aligned with the conventions of detective fiction, thereby enhancing the thematic depth of the novel. Consequently, this framework provides the reader with insights into the characters and the untold crime, suggesting that Breakfast at Tiffany’s occupies a unique literary intersection that merits further scholarly examination.