Havanas in Camelot

In this slim and intimate collection of posthumous essays, William Styron magnificently evokes the attitudes and sentiments of the 1940s through 1960s in America, and provides equally rich descriptions of himself and the host of fascinating characters surrounding him: Terry Southern, Nelson Algren, Truman Capote, James Baldwin, and John F. Kennedy. One of the longest essays revolves around Styron's humiliation after being misdiagnosed with syphilis while serving in the Marines, and how he turned to poetry for solace. Throughout the book Styron's deep love and reverence for literature shines forth, particularly in his admiration for Truman Capote.