(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
And I'm Bob Doughty with PEOPLE IN AMERICA in VOA Special English. Today we tell about Truman Capote, one of America's most famous modern writers. He invented a new kind of book called the nonfiction novel. This literary form combined factual reporting with the imaginary possibilities of storytelling. Capote's writing ability and his wild personality captured the interest of people all over the world.
Truman Capote became famous for living a wild and exciting life. He traveled a great deal and divided his time between homes in New York City and Switzerland. But he started out from more common roots.
Truman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in nineteen twenty-four. His name was Truman Streckfus Persons. When he was a very young child, Truman's mother sent him to live with her family in Monroeville, Alabama. He lived with his aunts and cousins for several years.
Truman rarely saw his parents. But he did become friends with the little girl who lived next door to his family. Her name was Harper Lee. She would later grow up to be a famous writer. Her book "To Kill a Mockingbird," would earn her a Pulitzer Prize. One of the characters in the book is based on Truman as a child.
Truman was a very lonely child. He later said that he felt very different from everyone around him. He said he felt he was much more intelligent and sensitive than others and feared that no one understood him. This helps explain why Truman began writing. Putting his thoughts on paper helped him feel less lonely. As a child he would write for about three hours a day after school.
When Truman was about ten years old he joined his mother in New York City. She had remarried a Cuban-American businessman named Joseph Capote. Mr. Capote soon became the legal parent of Truman. He renamed his stepson Truman Garcia Capote.
Truman did not do well in school. He was very smart but did not like classes. He stopped attending high school when he was seventeen years old. Instead, he started working for the New Yorker magazine. And, he kept on writing.
Truman Capote once said: "I had to be successful and I had to be successful early." He said that some people spent half of their lives not knowing what they were going to do. But Capote knew he wanted to be a writer and he wanted to be rich and famous. He succeeded.
In nineteen forty-five Truman Capote sold his first short story to a major magazine. This story, "Miriam", won a literary prize called the O. Henry Award. A publishing company soon gave him money to start working on a book.
Capote was only twenty-three years old when he finished his first novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms." It tells the story of a southern boy who goes to live with his father after his mother dies. The story is an exploration of identity. The boy learns to understand and accept that he loves men.
"Other Voices, Other Rooms" was a great success. Critics praised its clarity and honesty. But the story was also disputed. It openly deals with homosexual issues of men loving men. Truman Capote had relationships with men and was not afraid of expressing this fact to the world.
The photograph on the book cover also caused a dispute. The picture of Capote is intense and sexually suggestive. Capote loved shocking the public. He liked to get all kinds of publicity.
Truman Capote soon became well known in the literary world. He loved rich people from important families. Capote was as famous for his personality as he was for his writing. He attended the best parties and restaurants. His small body, boyish looks, and unusual little voice became famous.
Capote wrote many more short stories and essays. In nineteen fifty-eight, he published a book called "Breakfast at Tiffany's." It has become one of the most well known stories in American culture. The main character is Holly Golightly. She is a free-spirited young woman living in New York City.
Holly is very beautiful and has many lovers. She runs from party to party wearing little black dresses and dark sunglasses. But she has a mysterious past that she tries to escape. At the end of the story Holly leaves New York forever. She disappears from the lives of the men who knew her. But they can never forget her colorful personality.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" was soon made into a movie. The film stars Audrey Hepburn. She captures Holly Golightly's spirit perfectly. Here is a scene from the movie. Holly and her friend Paul are visiting Tiffany's, a very costly jewelry store.
"Isn't it wonderful? You see what I mean how nothing bad could ever happen to you in a place like this? It isn't that I give a hoot about jewelry except diamonds of course -- like that! [looking at a diamond necklace] What do you think?"
PAUL: "Well ...
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: "Of course, personally I think it would be tacky to wear diamonds before I am forty."
PAUL: "Well, you're right. but in the mean time you should have something."
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: "I'll wait."
PAUL: "No, I'm going to buy you a present. You bought me one -- a typewriter ribbon and it brought me luck."
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: "All right, but Tiffany's can be pretty expensive."
PAUL: "I've got my check and ...ten dollars."
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: "Oh, I wouldn't let you cash your check. But a present for ten dollars or under, that I'll accept. Of course, I don't exactly know what we're going to find at Tiffany's for ten dollars."
In the late nineteen fifties Truman Capote started developing a method of writing that would revolutionize journalism. He wanted to combine the facts of reporting with the stylistic richness of storytelling. He became interested in a short New York Times report published in November of nineteen fifty-nine.
The report described the murder of a family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. A husband, wife and two children had been shot in their home in the middle of the night.
Truman Capote immediately traveled to Kansas to learn more about the killings. His childhood friend Harper Lee went with him. Together they spoke with everyone involved in the investigation. They met with police officers and people living in the town. Capote even became friends with the two killers. The writer met with them many times in jail after they were arrested.
Capote spent the next few years researching what would become his next literary project. His book would give a detailed description of the murders. It would explore the effects of the killing on the town. And it would even tell the story from the point of view of the killers.
But Capote became involved in a moral conflict. He could not complete his book until he knew its ending. So, he had to wait until the end of the trial to see if both killers were found guilty and put to death. As a writer he wanted to finish the story. But as a friend, it was difficult for him to watch the two men die. Capote was torn between his duty towards human life and his duty to his work.
Capote worked for six years to produce his book "In Cold Blood." It was finally published in nineteen sixty-six. It immediately became an international best seller. Truman Capote had invented a whole new kind of writing. He called it the non-fiction novel. He was at the top of his profession.
Here is a recording of Truman Capote from a two thousand five documentary about him. Listen to Capote's small southern voice as he talks about style.
TRUMAN CAPOTE: "I think one has style or one doesn't, but style is one's self. It's something that you don't, you cannot...learn. It's something that has to come from within you. And bit by bit, be arrived at and it's simply there like the color of your eyes."
Truman Capote decided to celebrate his new success. In nineteen sixty-six he gave what people called the "party of the century." He invited five hundred friends for a night of eating, drinking and dancing at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Guests included famous writers, actors and important people from the media. They were told to wear either black or white formal clothing. Capote's "Black and White Ball" was one of the most famous events in the history of New York society.
But Truman Capote's popularity soon decreased. His drinking and drug use seriously affected his health. His writing also suffered. He published stories that insulted his rich and powerful friends. Many people no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. Capote died in ninety eighty-four. He was fifty-nine.
Truman Capote's writing is still celebrated today for its clarity and style. In two thousand five the film "Capote" renewed interest in his work and personality. This little man from Alabama left an important mark on American literary culture.
重点解析
1.combine with与...结合
Because cholesterol can't travel alone through the bloodstream, it has to combine with certain proteins.
胆固醇因为不能单独在血液中移动，所以必须和特定的蛋白质结合。
2.famous for因…而闻名
The world's largest predatory fish. Famous for its "ambush" technique of grabbing prey from below.
这种世界上最大的食肉类鱼因其从底部“埋伏”捕猎的高超技术而闻名。
3.based on基于
It’s based on his interviews with creators in many fields and their own perceptions of how/why they do what they do.
该书基于他和许多各个领域创作者的会面，以及他们各自如何和为什么这样去做的原因。
4.at the end of在……结束时
He abstained from voting at the end of the debate.
辩论结束投票时，他弃权了。
5.at the top of在首位；在…的巅峰
We should discuss currency issues with China, but the exchange rate should not be at the top of the bilateral agenda.
我们是会与中国政府讨论货币问题，但汇率问题并非如今两国议事日程的首要问题。
6.involved in涉及；卷入
He turned them in to the police for being involved in the riot.
他向警方告发他们卷入了暴乱。
参考译文
我是菲丝·拉伯蒂斯，我是鲍勃·道蒂，这里是VOA慢速英语栏目《美国人物志》。今天我们讲述美国现代最著名的作家之一，杜鲁门·卡波特的故事。他发明了一种新的文学种类，叫做非虚构小说。这种文学形式把事实报道和虚构的讲故事的可能性结合起来。卡波特的写作能力和他狂野的个性吸引了全世界人们的兴趣。
杜鲁门·卡波特因过着狂野而刺激的生活而出名。他经常旅行，往来于纽约和瑞士的家中。但他是从更普通的出身开始的。
杜鲁门于1924年出生在路易斯安那州的新奥尔良。他的名字叫杜鲁门·斯特雷科福斯·珀森斯。当杜鲁门很小的时候，他的母亲把他送到阿拉巴马州门罗维尔的家中。他和他的姑姑和堂兄妹在一块住了好几年。
杜鲁门很少见到他的父母。但是他和住在他家隔壁的小女孩成了朋友。她的名字叫哈珀·李。她后来成为一名著名的作家。她的书《杀死一只知更鸟》为她赢得了普利策奖。书中的一个人物是以杜鲁门小时候为原型的。
杜鲁门是一个非常孤独的孩子。他后来说，他觉得自己和周围的人很不一样。他说，他觉得自己比别人聪明、敏感得多，担心没有人理解他。这有助于解释为什么杜鲁门开始写作。把他的想法写在纸上有助于他减轻孤独感。还是个孩子的时候，他每天放学后要写大约三个小时。
当杜鲁门大约十岁时，他和母亲一起住在纽约市。她与古巴裔美国商人约瑟夫·卡波特再婚。卡波特很快成为杜鲁门的合法父亲。他给继子取名杜鲁门·加西亚·卡波特。
杜鲁门在学校表现不好。他很聪明，但不喜欢上课。他十七岁时就从高中辍学了。相反，他开始为《纽约客》杂志工作。他继续写作。
杜鲁门·卡波特曾经说过：“我必须成功，我必须尽早成功。”他说，有些人一生过了一半的时间都不知道自己要做什么。但是卡波特知道他想成为一名作家，他想发财成名。他成功了。
1945年杜鲁门·卡波特把他的第一篇短篇小说卖给了一家大杂志。这个故事，《米里亚姆》，获得了一个叫做欧亨利奖的文学奖。一家出版公司很快给了他钱，让他开始写书。
卡波特在23岁时完成了他的第一部小说《其他的声音，其他的房间》它讲述了一个南方男孩在他母亲去世后和他的父亲住在一起的故事。这个故事是对身份的探索。这个男孩学会了理解和接受他爱男人。
《其他声音，其他房间》非常成功。评论家称赞它的清晰和诚实。但这个故事也有争议。它公开谈论了同性恋男人爱男人的问题。杜鲁门·卡波特与男人有情侣关系，他不怕向世界表达这一事实。
书封面上的照片也引起了争议。卡波特的照片表现了紧张和性暗示。卡波特喜欢震惊公众。他喜欢得到各种各样的宣传。
杜鲁门·卡波特很快就在文学界出了名。他爱那些来自显赫家庭的富人。卡波特的个性和他的写作一样出名。他经常去最好的聚会和餐馆。他矮小的身体、孩子气的外表和不寻常的小嗓音使他一举成名。
卡波特写了更多的短篇小说和散文。1958年，他出版了一本名为《蒂凡尼早餐》的书。它已经成为美国文化中最著名的故事之一。主角是霍莉·戈莱特利。她是一个生活在纽约市的自由奔放的年轻女子。
霍莉很漂亮，有很多情人。她穿着小黑裙，戴着墨镜从一个派对跑到另一个派对。但她有一个神秘的过去，她试图逃避。在故事的结尾，霍莉永远离开了纽约。她从认识她的男人的生活中消失了。但他们永远不会忘记她丰富多彩的个性。
《蒂凡尼的早餐》很快就被拍成了电影。奥黛丽·赫本主演了这部电影。她完美地捕捉到了霍莉·戈莱特利的个性。这是电影中的一个场景。霍莉和她的朋友保罗正在参观蒂芙尼，一家非常昂贵的珠宝店。
“是不是很美妙?你明白我的意思吗?在这样的地方怎么可能没有什么坏事发生在你身上?我对珠宝并不感兴趣，当然钻石除外——就像那样!(看着一条钻石项链)你觉得怎么样?
保罗：这个嘛...
霍莉·戈莱特丽：“当然，就我个人而言，我认为在四十岁之前戴钻石是俗气的。”
保罗：嗯，你说得对。但与此同时，你应该拥有一些东西。
霍莉·戈莱特利：“我会等的。”
保罗：“不，我要给你买件礼物。”你给我买了一个——打字机色带，它给我带来了好运。”
霍莉·戈莱特利：“好吧，但是蒂凡尼的可能很贵。”
保罗：“我有支票，还有……10美元。”
霍莉·戈莱特利：“哦，我不会让你兑现支票的。但是一件十美元以下的礼物，我会接受的。当然，我也不知道在蒂凡尼花10美元能买到什么。”
在20世纪50年代后期，杜鲁门·卡波特开始发展一种写作方法，这将彻底改变新闻业。他想把报道的事实和故事丰富的文体结合起来。他开始对1959年11月发表的《纽约时报》的一篇短文报道感兴趣。
这篇报道描述了堪萨斯州霍尔科姆镇一个家庭被谋杀的情况。一名丈夫、妻子和两个孩子半夜在家中被枪杀。
杜鲁门·卡波特立即前往堪萨斯了解更多关于那次枪杀的情况。他儿时的朋友哈珀·李和他一起去了。他们一起与参与调查的每个人交谈。他们约见了当地的警察和居民。卡波特甚至和这两名杀手成了朋友。作者在他们被捕后在监狱里见过他们很多次。
卡波特花了几年时间研究他的下一个文学项目。他的书将详细描述这些谋杀案。它将探讨杀戮对这个城镇的影响。它甚至会从杀手的角度讲述这个故事。
但卡波特陷入了一场道德冲突。直到他知道这个案子的结局，他才能完成它。因此，他不得不等到审判结束，看看这两名凶手是否被判有罪并被处死。作为一个作家，他想完成这个故事。但是作为一个朋友，他很难眼睁睁地看着这两个人死去。卡波特在对人生的责任和对工作的责任之间左右为难。
卡波特花了六年时间写了他的书《冷血》。它最终在1966年出版。它立即成为了国际畅销书。杜鲁门·卡波特发明了一种全新的写作方式。他称之为非虚构类小说。他走向了职业生涯的顶峰。
这是杜鲁门·卡波特2005年纪录片中的一段录音。听听卡波特在谈论风格时的南方口音。
杜鲁门·卡波特：“我认为一个人有或没有风格，但风格是一个人的自我。这是你学不到的东西。它必须来自你的内心。慢慢地，你会发现它就像你眼睛的颜色一样。
杜鲁门·卡波特决定庆祝他新取得的成功。1966年，他举办了人们称之为“世纪聚会”的活动。他邀请了500位朋友在纽约广场酒店开怀畅饮、跳了一晚上的舞。嘉宾包括著名作家、演员和重要的媒体人士。他们被告知要穿黑色或白色的礼服。卡波特的“黑白舞会”是纽约社会历史上最著名的事件之一。
但是杜鲁门·卡波特很快就不再受欢迎了。他的酗酒和吸毒严重影响了他的健康。他的写作也受到了影响。他发表的故事侮辱了他有钱有势的朋友。很多人都不想和他在有任何的瓜葛。卡波特于1984年去世，享年59岁。
时至今日，杜鲁门·卡波特的作品仍因其清晰和风格而闻名。2005年，电影《卡波特》重燃了人们对他的作品和个性的兴趣。这个来自阿拉巴马州的小个子男人在美国文学文化中留下了重要的印记。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
