View source for Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

{{infobox1
|title=Breakfast at Tiffany's
|author=Truman Capote
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=Unabridged audiobook read by Michael C Hall of TV's ''Dexter'' and ''Six Feet Under'' fame. He does a wonderful job with one of the most memorable heroines of all time and one of the most beautifully written novellas of all time.
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=2h 52m
|publisher=Audible
|website=
|date=February 2014
|isbn=B00HX9UTSE
|video=
|cover=B00HX9UTSE
|aznuk=B00HX9UTSE
|aznus=B00HX17M3M
}}

Holly Golightly. Who doesn't know her? Whether in the pages of ''Breakfast at Tiffany's'', the short novel by Truman Capote or captured on film by Audrey Hepburn, she's an American icon. A young country girl becomes a New York socialite, trading on amusement value to make a life paid for by rich men who are titillated by her outrageous opinions and anecdotes. We ''want'' to know her. And the narrator ''wants'' to know her as much, if not more, than we do.

And gradually, Holly does reveal herself to the narrator, whom she calls Fred. Some say that she is based on the real life relationship Capote had with Marilyn Munroe and indeed, this is the story of a light that shone perhaps too brightly and, in so doing, engulfed itself. Iconic as the film portrayal by Audrey Hepburn is, the book, I think, is better. It is just as lovely but it includes that edge of danger, of loose ends not being tied off, that makes it so truthful. But it loses none of the vivacity, humour and love of life.

Capote was a master of language and this story is told in his wonderful, elegant, poetic prose that somehow combines simplicity and humour in the mix. It's charming but never saccharine and addictive too - just as the narrator yearns to fully know and understand Holly Golightly, so does the reader. And somehow, the narrator becomes both bridge and barrier to that knowledge and understanding. As a novella, it's not even a split hair from perfect and that is why it resonates today just as much as it did when it was written more than fifty years ago.

I'm reviewing Audible's unabridged audiobook read by Michael C Hall of TV's ''Dexter'' and ''Six Feet Under'' fame. He does a wonderful job. Each character is brought to life and he slips seamlessly between them but never gets between the listener and the story. It's not easy to strike the right balance between breathing life into the text and dominating it and Hall manages it perfectly. I hope he does some more work for Audible. I'd listen to anything he read. Coming in at just under 3 hours, this edition is perfect for a quiet afternoon or evening at home or a car or train journey.

''Breakfast at Tiffany's'' brings you one of the most memorable heroines of all time and is one of the most beautifully written novellas of all time. Here, it's beautifully read for a satisfying experience. What more could you want?

If you're looking to read rather than listen, then you could look at our [[Top Ten Books To Read In One Sitting]]. Good things often come in small packages!

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