When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
In Cold Blood is a pretty claustrophobic book—most of it takes place in a very limited setting, with the exception of a short tour of Mexico, Florida, and Las Vegas. There's not much discussion of the larger world or of events outside those of the story we're reading. So there aren't a lot of references to popular culture or historical events. But here are a few:
Literary References:
- Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Ogden Nash: mentioned as the favorite poets of Lowell Lee Andrews, the man condemned on death row with Dick and Perry (4.241)
- Harold Robbins and Irving Wallace: American authors whose popular novels in the 1950s and 60s were known for having lots of sex. Dick reads their novels while in prison. (4.242)
Historical References:
- Korean War: 1950-53, a conflict between North and South Korea. The U.S. sent more than 300,000 soldiers to fight on the side of South Korea. Perry Smith was one of them.