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Swan Song

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Swan Song

By: Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott
Narrated by: Debora Weston
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Random House presents the audiobook edition of Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott, read by Deborah Weston.

NOMINATED FOR THE 2019 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A dazzlingly assured first novel... This clever book, with the moreish astringency of a negroni, is a perfect summer cocktail.'
SUNDAY TIMES

'A whirlwind of a first novel. There is great pathos in the Swans’ woundings and in their inevitable decline. And the character of Truman himself shimmers through the novel in a wonderful blaze of eccentricity and excess. Outstanding.' ROSE TREMAIN
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To the outside world, they were the icons of high society — the most glamorous and influential women of their age. To Truman Capote they were his Swans: the ideal heroines, as vulnerable as they were powerful. They trusted him with their most guarded, martini-soaked secrets, each believing she was more special and loved than the next…

Until he betrayed them.

‘Writers write. And one can’t be surprised if they write what they know.’

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'A completely fascinating novel and a marvellously skilful re-imagining of real people, times and places. Outstanding.' WILLIAM BOYD

'Scandalous, frenetic, amusing and tragic.' DAILY MAIL

'Our generation’s The Secret History' PENDORA

'Brilliantly written, deeply researched, funny, sharp and moving.' – KATE WILLIAMS, bestselling author of Josephine

'Brilliantly captures Capote’s acid wit and his dramatic downfall.' THE TIMES, Books of the Year

'This is a first novel of extraordinary skill, a book of which Capote would have been proud' OBSERVER

'Greenberg-Jephcott's debut is a devastating read that blurs the lines between vulnerability and narcissism; sex and power... will have you racing breathlessly towards the end' THE POOL

©2018 Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott (P)2018 Penguin Random House UK
Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Inspiring
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Critic reviews

A rich, sharp, sting of a book. It made me laugh and grimace and pity monsters. I'm still smiling about it (Stu Turton, bestselling author of THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE)
As deliciously gossipy as it is wretched, and Greenberg-Jephcott's unique rendering of Capote's squealing drawl of a voice is unforgettable. (Frankie McCoy)
Gorgeous... That glittering world - all Dom Perignon, Sobranies, Quaalude and Chanel - is recreated with a lovely eye for detail (Robbie Millen)
Since reading the totally, totally beautiful Swan Song, I have two new hobbies. Googling photos of Barbara Paley and watching videos of the Camel Walk. (Dolly Alderton)
A completely fascinating novel and a marvellously skillful re-imagining of real people, times and places. Outstanding. (William Boyd)
This is a first novel of extraordinary skill, a book of which Capote would have been proud (Alex Preston)
If a writer is going to craft a novel from well-known events, they might as well do it with brio, which this has in spades... A skilled and sparking debut (Suzi Feay)
All stars
Most relevant
I chose to read this book because for a couple of reasons - Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' is one of my top 10 favourite books and I wanted to know a little more about him from another admirer of his work who had done her research, and I wanted to know a little more about the jet set society of the time that he mixed with - something I knew very little about.

Thoroughly enjoyed how the author seemed to really inhabit Capote's voice and wasn't afraid to show him in a less positive light when the 'story' called for it. The lives of the socialites, their families and Capote himself is a million miles from my personal experience (thankfully!) and I enjoyed learning about them and having my personal prejudices confirmed that money and 'success' don't make you any different or happier than anyone else!

If you have any interest in Capote or generally in the period in question, I'd highly recommend. If you're looking for any kind of literary review or commentary, that's not what this is.

Money and success don't make you happy!

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This is good leaning on great. True to history, while at the same time allowing history come through like you’re there. Really makes its characters come to life. Great narrator too.

Lovely through and through

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This is a remarkable and incredibly detailed account of the rise and fall of Capote. The narrative moves back and forth over the years and in many ways is a series of vignettes. The structure is unconventional but it works well if you go with flow.

Capote was a gifted and unique individual. In addition to his prodigious talent as a writer, he was a socialite who mixed with politicians, film producers, actors princes and anyone who was someone. He cultivated a small clique and each confided their secrets over many years. And then he betrayed their friendship and in an act of pure spite, went public.

I absolutely loved this book. Narration throughout is superb and if I could give it 10 stars, I would.

Astonishing. Totally gripped

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. extremely well written and delivered, the narrator really brought the book to life for me. a highly reccomended purchase.

I loved it

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I think I must have bought this as part of a three for two as it’s not the sort of title I would have used a credit on. I finished my previous book and wanted something a bit different. The synopsis drew me in and unfortunately I feel it’s rather misleading.

This is a meandering tale of Truman Capote and his harem of high society women. It would probably resonate more with people familiar with these personalities. I’d heard of Jackie O obviously, but not her sister and all of the other woman were a mystery. I looked up Capote on YouTube and the narrator has his voice spot on and did a great job in general.

Overall by the time this relatively long tale was finished I did feel a bit disappointed. It wasn’t what it said on the tin. I just hate giving up on audiobooks otherwise I would probably have sacked this one off. It’s not a bad book, it’s just a really strange one.

Bizarre

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