Two books from chic literary London

Since her husband, Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter died on Christmas Eve 2008, Lady Antonia Fraser has published two Memoirs  « Must you go » and « My History ». Her latest book published last month by Oneworld Publications,  « Our Israeli diary, 1978 » is a little publishing jewel. Alexandra Shulman is leaving Vogue at the height of her fame with the publication of “Inside Vogue, a very special year” after 25 years at the head of the magazine. These two ladies are the Queens of literary London and both books are intimate and beautifully writtten.

Lady Antonia Fraser still writes and swims every day

Antonia’s, is the story of two weeks she spent with Harold Pinter in May 78, in Mishkenot, the luxurious guest house for artists and writers in Jerusalem. They were invited  for the celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.  Menachem Begin was Prime minister.

Rostropovich played at the Jerusalem Theatre, Zubin Mehta chats afterwards, the Jericho digs are seen in 43 degrees celsius, the Dead Sea, the bar at King David’s hotel, the Rockefeller museum, Bethleem… The Pinters go on all the right touristic trips including the Masada fort in a cable car with zillions of tourists, where Harold having height fear almost faints, and swimming in the lake of Galilee.

The journal is charming because Lady Antonia has an immediate voice : she speaks the same way to officials and Armenian taxi drivers and shares with us her love for the great Pinter. After the lunch we had at Essenza, in Notting Hill, where she was telling me about finding this diary in a forgotten closet, she went swimming as she does many times a week. Her energy is intact and her curiosity also.

Alexandra Shulman, who has just announced that she was leaving British Vogue after a record 25 years as its editor in chief, published an equallly charming account of the hundredth year celebrations including a large show “Vogue 100” at the National portrait gallery, a film “Absolutely fashion” for the BBC,  and a cover with the Duchess of Cambridge shot by Josh Olins, in Norfolk.

Princess Diana by Deamrcherlier was one of Alexandra Shulman’s great covers for British Vogue

Teh Hundredth anniversary of Vogueewas celebarated with the Duchess of Cambridge at home

The book, « Inside Vogue, A diary of my 100 th year » is a detailed, modest and well written account of a fashion magazine editor’s life. Not always as glamorous as you think when you have to fly to New York and immediately upon arrival, attend a series of meetings and a gala dinner. Alexandra’s unique prose goes like this : « The garden at home never looks lovelier than when I am about to get on a plane… » and her tone is constantly intimate.

Alexandra Shulman

Criticized for dressing  too casually for a Vogue editor when she first started on the job, Alexandra has kept her laid back attitude all along and has nevertheless made important statements on fashion and model’s weight issues, as well as increased the circulation of the magazine regularly. Her diary of 2015-16 will interest many aspiring fashionistas as well as classic readers.

What is important in these two books is the « voice » of the writer. Both speak to us as if we were in the room with them, and share an intimacy with great style, that is very appealing.

In our times of writing workshops and standardized best sellers, these two diaries bring some well needed fresh air…in our lives.

(« Our Isareli diaries”, Oneworld, and « Inside Vogue », Fig Tree)