(4.5 Stars)Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favourite films; the costumes and central performance by Audery Hepburn are iconic; and so I was really intrigued to read the novella which it was based on. I knew little of Capote, apart from the fact that there had been biopics about his life which had seemed a little dark. This apparent darkness certainly impacts the original novella which, whilst as wonderful as the film, has a lack of the fairytale that the film tells. Whilst the film seems a rather standard romantic tale of Holly and the young writer, the novella takes a different view of this relationship. The writer is a character reminiscent of Nick in The Great Gatsby, observing Holly’s life, and becoming slightly obsessed with her, rather than having a real impact in it. There is also the suggestion that the protagonist is actually homosexual-he refers to there being a problem with him getting drafted into the army-which would clearly change the way in which he saw Holly. The lack of neat ending as in the film is also absent in the novella; and this is down to the differences between the character of Holly. Whilst in the film, Holly is sparkly but ultimately in need of resuce, in the book this Holly is fiercely independent with no desire to have any kind of ties to anyone. She remains funny, and spirited, and looking for a way to continue to move around and escape her apparently quite sad past; but does not end up with a neat future ahead of her.Capote’s prose isn’t overly descriptive, it’s simple in its use of language and yet remains compelling throughout. Overall, the novella was certainly as good as the film, even if it left me with the rather bizarre feeling of jealousy towards a character who can so easily do whatever she pleases.
