The Ultimate Betrayal: 7 Shocking Secrets Behind 'Capote Vs. The Swans' And The Tragic Downfall

The dramatic and devastating feud between literary titan Truman Capote and his inner circle of glamorous New York socialites, known as "The Swans," has resurfaced in the public consciousness, making it one of the most talked-about cultural events of the last few years. As of December 2025, the story's continued relevance is cemented by the critically acclaimed FX anthology series, *Feud: Capote vs. The Swans*, which brought this high-society tragedy to a new generation. This is not merely a tale of gossip; it is a profound examination of trust, ambition, and the self-destructive nature of a writer who cannibalized his friendships for his art, leading to his social exile and ultimate decline.

The central conflict revolves around the 1975 publication of a single, explosive chapter from Capote's unfinished novel, *Answered Prayers*. Titled "La Côte Basque, 1965," the piece appeared in *Esquire* magazine and was a thinly veiled, vicious exposé of the most intimate and scandalous secrets shared with him in confidence by his closest friends. The fallout was immediate, catastrophic, and permanently altered the landscape of New York's high society, earning Capote the title of a social pariah.

The Principal Players: Truman Capote and His Swans

The "Swans" were an elite group of women—impeccably dressed, wealthy, and powerful—who represented the peak of mid-century American and international glamour. Truman Capote, a literary celebrity after *In Cold Blood*, became their court jester and confidant, granted access to a world few others could penetrate. His betrayal was a shock because he was, for years, their trusted, witty, and seemingly devoted friend.

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• Truman Capote (1924–1984): Born Truman Streckfus Persons. A celebrated American author known for *Breakfast at Tiffany's* and *In Cold Blood*. His genius was matched only by his deep-seated insecurities and need for social validation. He saw *Answered Prayers* as his magnum opus, a "Proustian" novel that would expose the hypocrisy of the rich. In the FX series, he is portrayed by Tom Hollander.
• Babe Paley (1915–1978): Born Barbara Cushing. Considered Capote’s favorite Swan and the epitome of style and elegance. She was a former *Vogue* editor and the wife of CBS founder William S. Paley. Her marriage, and Bill Paley's numerous infidelities, formed the most devastating core of the "La Côte Basque, 1965" exposé. She is portrayed by Naomi Watts.
• Slim Keith (1917–1990): Born Mary Raye Gross. A formidable, sharp-tongued California-born socialite and style icon, known for her strong personality. She was married to director Howard Hawks and later to agent Leland Hayward. She was one of the most vocal and unforgiving in her condemnation of Capote. She is portrayed by Diane Lane.
• C.Z. Guest (1920–2003): Born Lucy Douglas Cochrane. A stylish equestrian, socialite, and gardening expert. She was the wife of Winston Frederick Churchill Guest, a wealthy polo champion. C.Z. Guest was famously the only Swan who remained friends with Capote after the article’s publication, though their relationship was strained. She is portrayed by Chloë Sevigny.
• Lee Radziwill (1933–2019): Born Caroline Lee Bouvier. The younger sister of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. A socialite, interior decorator, and minor actress, she was known for her European style and constant comparison to her famous sister. Capote was a close confidant during her turbulent marriage to Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwill. She is portrayed by Calista Flockhart.
• Gloria Guinness (1912–1980): Born Gloria Rubio y Alatorre. A sophisticated Mexican-born socialite and writer for *Harper's Bazaar*. She was celebrated for her international style and was married multiple times, including to a German aristocrat and later to the Guinness heir. She is portrayed by Demi Moore.
• Marella Agnelli (1927–2019): Born Donna Marella Caracciolo di Castagneto. An Italian noblewoman, art collector, and photographer's model, known as the "Last Swan." She was the wife of Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli. She is portrayed by Molly Ringwald.

The Anatomy of Betrayal: What 'La Côte Basque, 1965' Exposed

The infamous chapter, published in the November 1975 issue of *Esquire*, was a literary hand grenade. It took place during a fictional lunch at the exclusive Manhattan restaurant La Côte Basque, where the narrator, a writer named P.B. Jones (Capote’s thinly veiled alter ego), overhears and recounts the deeply personal, often criminal, and humiliating confessions of his friends. The names were changed—Babe Paley became "Ann Hopkins," Slim Keith became "Lady Coolbirth"—but the identities were instantly recognizable to all of New York society.

The secrets revealed were not mere gossip; they were life-altering scandals that shattered reputations and marriages.

1. The Paley Affair: The most devastating revelation involved a character based on Babe Paley's husband, CBS chief Bill Paley. The story detailed a graphic account of Bill Paley’s infidelity, specifically an affair with a governor’s wife. The fictionalized account included the chilling detail of Paley washing the evidence of his infidelity from his mistress’s bedsheets before returning home, a secret Babe had tearfully confided in Capote.

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2. The Accusation of Murder: A character based on Slim Keith, "Lady Coolbirth," recounts a story of a wealthy woman who murdered her husband and got away with it, a narrative that was far more vicious and shocking than simple adultery.

3. The Financial Scandal: The chapter touched on a financial scandal involving a character based on one of the Swans’ husbands, implicating him in illegal activities and tax evasion.

4. Lee Radziwill's Ambition: Capote had been privy to the deep-seated rivalry between Lee Radziwill and her sister, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The chapter is believed to have exposed some of Lee’s more desperate attempts to achieve the same level of fame and social standing as Jackie.

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The Swans felt not only betrayed but violated. They had trusted Capote, a gay outsider, with their deepest vulnerabilities, believing he was a safe, non-competitive confidant. His response was to use their trust as material for his literary ambition.

The Catastrophic Fallout: Exile, Decline, and The Unfinished Novel

The publication of "La Côte Basque, 1965" was an act of social suicide. Capote had intended the novel, *Answered Prayers*, to be his literary masterpiece, a satirical look at the rich and powerful, but the premature release of this single chapter destroyed his access to the world he sought to critique.

The Immediate Social Exile

The Swans, led by the deeply wounded Babe Paley and the ferociously angry Slim Keith, immediately cut Capote off. Invitations stopped, phone calls went unanswered, and he was effectively banned from the social circles that had been his lifeblood. Babe Paley, who was already battling terminal cancer, never spoke to him again, a betrayal that reportedly hastened her tragic decline.

The Writer's Tragic Decline

Capote’s professional and personal life spiraled downward in the aftermath. Cut off from his primary source of material and the validation of his elite friends, his already severe struggles with alcohol and drug abuse intensified. He famously lamented, "I am a writer. What did they expect?" but the loss of his muses proved fatal to his creativity. The pressure to complete *Answered Prayers*, coupled with his addiction, became insurmountable.

The novel was never completed. Capote published only three chapters before his death in 1984, leading to enduring speculation that he may have destroyed the remaining manuscript. The unfinished work stands as a monument to his hubris and the price of his artistic ambition.

The Legacy of the Feud in Modern Culture

The enduring fascination with the Capote/Swans feud stems from its timeless themes of trust, class, and the fine line between art and life. The story has been revisited countless times in books, documentaries, and now, the highly stylized FX series *Feud: Capote vs. The Swans*. The series, produced by Ryan Murphy, stars an all-star cast including Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, and Tom Hollander, bringing a fresh, cinematic lens to the 1970s New York elite.

The modern revival of the story, nearly 50 years later, reminds us that the secrets of the ultra-wealthy are as compelling as ever. It is a cautionary tale about the perils of believing one can be both an insider and an objective observer, and the tragic fate of a genius who sacrificed everything for a novel he could not finish.