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Swan Song

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About this listen

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

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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What a simply wonderful book. Totally engrossing. Deborah Weston is to be congratulated for bringing to life all the fascinating characters to be found in the pages, especially Truman Capote himself. Kellogg Greenberg-Jephcott has written a masterpiece.

A tour de force

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I only chose this biography because I read and liked a review in a woman's magazine, but I am so glad I did. Truman Capote was an intriguing human being, loved and loathed in equal measure, this book follows his rise to the top, mingling with America's high society gals, with whom he is very popular, to his downfall after revealing many of their secrets.
The kind of biography one could easily listen to again and again. What a fascinating life.

Exceptionally Good Biography

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A beautifully written insight into that world and the narrator is fabulous. It just felt very very long.

Fascinating, but long

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