"In Cold Blood"-Truman Capote

[Nickster]

Ok, curious if this is common knowledge or not. My wife and I are having a discussion about this book in general and Truman Capote in particular and I'm curious if anyone can shed some light on our discussion.

From what I've seen and read, he appears to be very fond of Perry Smith. Truman's critics say that he wrote about Perry as if he was really writing about himself rather than the real Perry Smith. I've read some other speculation that Truman had a sexual relationship with Perry. I think the sexual relationship theory was spun out of the culture shock that the people in that Kansas town had with someone like Truman, rather than any fact. I also think that Truman may have pushed that idea along because it was simply more interesting, the star-crossed lover angle.

So can anyone shed any further light on the Truman and Perry Smith relationship?