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Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a novella by Truman Capote, first published in 1958, that follows an unnamed narrator as he recounts his knowledge of and friendship with an enigmatic New York City socialite, Holly Golightly
. The narrator is an aspiring writer who delves into Holly’s mysterious past, describes her attempts to rub elbows with the city’s upper class, and details her relationships with the people around her. Set against the backdrop of 1940s New York, the novella explores themes of freedom, authenticity, and belonging. Breakfast at Tiffany’s was later adapted into the well-known 1961 film of the same name, starring Audrey Hepburn and directed by Blake Edwards.The novella was originally going to appear in Harper’s Bazaar, but the magazine’s publisher deemed the material too controversial. Angered, Capote took the story to Esquire instead. Even today, the content would be controversial, though not for all the same reasons. Homosexuality is occasionally referenced, overtly and indirectly, and Holly freely refers to lesbians in disparaging ways. Racial stereotypes also sometimes figure in the plot, and the dialogue occasionally includes offensive racial epithets.
Read the full book summary, the full book analysis, an in-depth character analysis of Holly Golightly, and explanations of important quotes from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
