A Diamond Guitar

"The new prisoner, a blond young boy, lagged a pace behind. He was carrying a guitar studded with glassy diamonds that cast a starry twinkle..."

'A Diamond Guitar' is a classic short story by Truman Capote, first published in Harper's Bazaar in 1950. The title refers to the prize possession of a younger prison inmate, a rhinestone-studded guitar. The guitar serves as the key image of the story, one of friendship, despair and isolation. It was also published and is commonly read within 'Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories' (1958).

Truman Capote (1924–1984) was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels, and plays are recognized literary classics. His first novel, 'Other Voices, Other Rooms' (1948) stayed on the bestseller list for nine weeks. In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction, such as the novella 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1958). His masterpiece, 'In Cold Blood' (1965), became a worldwide success, after which he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59. At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.