BIOGRAPHY

Condé Nast: The Man and His Empire; A Biography

by Susan Ronald
St. Martin’s. Sept. 2019. 448p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781250180025. $32.50; ebk. ISBN 9781250180049. BIOG
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For more than three decades, Condé Montrose Nast (1873–1942) was the arbiter of style and fashion, influencing early 20th-century culture through the pages of his magazines and his forward-thinking hiring practices. Here, Ronald (A Dangerous Woman) chronicles the life and times of the publishing magnate, focusing on how, after working for and gaining invaluable experience at Collier’s Weekly, Nast purchased and revitalized several publications. He developed a unique approach to publishing and sought out talented writers and editors, placing women in top management positions. While the targeting of content and advertising to a specialized audience is commonplace today, Nast was one of the first to try this strategy, revitalizing Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House & Garden into influential publications for a Gilded- and Jazz Age high-society readership.
VERDICT With her breezy, gossipy style, Ronald brings to life the story of the influential American publisher and his magazines. Journalism students and readers of this time period will enjoy this biography
Reviewed by Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL , Jun 30, 2019
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