A new genre is emerging, the historical novel about women, written from a  woman’s perspective. Many fail as both history and fiction, but Melanie Benjamin soars above the others, first with THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, and now with THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE.

Informed by Truman Capote’s scandalous ANSWERED PRAYERS and the Esquire articles that preceded it, it takes us into the world of the original trophy wives of Harriman, Churchill, Vanderbilt, Guinness, and Paley. These women were so prized that they were almost always reported in New York’s society and gossip columns as Mrs. Someone, as if they were royalty.

A new genre is emerging, the historical novel about women, written from a  woman’s perspective. Many fail as both history and fiction, but Melanie Benjamin soars above the others, first with THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, and now with THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE.

Informed by Truman Capote’s scandalous ANSWERED PRAYERSand the Esquire articles that preceded it, it takes us into the world of the original trophy wives of Harriman, Churchill, Vanderbilt, Guinness, and Paley. These women were so prized that they were almost always reported in New York’s society and gossip columns as Mrs. Someone, as if they were royalty.

And for Truman Capote they were. His friendship with his swans-Gloria Guinness, Slim Keith (married to Howard Hawks and Leland Hayward, as well as Lord Keith,) Pamela Churchill Hayward Harriman and for Capote, the queen of them all-Barbara “Babe” Cushing Mortimer Paley. They welcomed him into their rarified world only to be betrayed by his sharing with the world the intimate secrets they shared with him.

Beneath the glitz Benjamin finds a heartbreakingly lonely woman and a sad and abandoned boy. I was very pleasantly surprised.

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Review by KV Marin

Glamorous women and gay men have historically had close relationships.  Just look at women and their hairdressers (who are predominantly gay) or fashion designers and their muses.  The relationships tend to be “safe” : there is no romantic expectation, dark secrets are shared and insecurities surface.

The Swans of Fifth Avenue fictionalizes the very real relationships author Truman Capote had built with New York’s creme de la creme of ladies who lunch.  Capote befriended Slim Keith, Maria Agnelli and Gloria Guiness among others.  He labelled these glamazons his “Swans” inspired by their long necks and elegant comportment.  The “lead swan” was of course Babe Paley, reputed to be the most beautiful woman in New York at the time and a style icon. Babe was married to Bill Paley, the head of the CBS TV and radio network.

These friendships were so unlikely: Capote was a short, geeky looking gay man.  He was smart enough to know he had to charm the wife and her husband if he wanted to be invited into the world of the rich and famous.   Everyone said he was easy to talk to and a good listener.  Many confidences were shared, hopes and fears…..where would it go?

Indeed, Capote was a writer.  He shot to fame when he released his book IN COLD BLOOD, the story of a brutal murder which happened in Kansas.  He worked on the book for six years and when released, it was recognized as his masterpiece.   He became the toast of New York, lauded and feted for his genius.  There’s just one problem: how do you follow that with something equally powerful?

So began the drug and alcohol downward spiral that became his undoing.  Finally tapped out and suffering a serious writer’s block he decides to write what he knows: a catty, gossip-filled look behind the scenes of the upper crust.  “La Cote Basque 1965”, named after the famous restaurant where the Swans went to see and be seen,  was supposed to be the first installment of “Answered Prayers’ his next masterpiece to be.  It blew up in his face as he betrayed everyone who was close to him.

Babe Paley suffered the most.  The story included a thinly veiled account of her chronically-unfaithful husband’s afternoon tryst with one of her close friends.  Babe never spoke to Truman again and in fact almost every door in New York was firmly shut.

Truman was incredulous.  “But they know I’m a writer”…but some lines just can’t be crossed.

It’s hard to say how much of this novel is true and how much is invented.  Were Babe and Truman really that close?  Did the Swans call him “True Heart” ?  Were 1950’s powerful men really so accepting of a gay man?   Did Babe and Truman really sleep together just for physical closeness?

One thing that comes out loud and clear is the price these women paid.  The constant pressure to be perfect- the perfect wife, perfect hostess, perfectly groomed – it’s exhausting.  Plus the men aren’t portrayed in a flattering light:  philandering, flatulent, insecure, non communicative . The wives long for intimacy, but not necessarily with their husbands.   And Capote took advantage.

An enjoyable quick read that made me want to read “La Cote Basque 1965”!

  stir up a pitcher of martinis,silence all electronics, curl up on the terrace and spend a week-end  reading the swans of  fifth venue---melanie benjamin---if you want to become   familiar with a certain slice of new york at a certain point in time   for new york magaine and its readers, these were the beautiful people---babe paley, bill paley, and truman capote and their far flung coterie   the book is poignant,bitter sweet, as capote rats out the intimate story of those who thought he was a friend confidant----meanwhile, paradoxically, tru and babe truly care for each other, need each other and engage in an all but consummated affair   having touched on the serious parts, i can also say the book, in part, is hilarious---the obsession with clothing, being seen and invited-the watering hole   at a distgance, i lived through this period   i read the papers, i read new york magazine,i was one of mr paley's grunts   there some  meeting for which i had prepared the material and sat in the back row with the notebooks  we were even introduced  abuddy at the firm one jim abernathy over and over discussed the sociology behind some of paley's decision   he was always knocking at the door of waspiness and respectability   i find one significant shortcoming in the book  having described the fading of the old ways the discussion  s to why is paltry---what permitted rock and roll to take over, what happened  to ties and button down shirts, why were the wasps so easily pushed aside   READ and ENJOY    

 martin ewenstein-East Village, NYC