She was less bitchy than extremely shrewd and sharp-eyed, and didn’t hesitate to say about people exactly what she felt — though she did, I think, sometimes choose frightful people to munch up. . .
She was less bitchy than extremely shrewd and sharp-eyed, and didn’t hesitate to say about people exactly what she felt — though she did, I think, sometimes choose frightful people to munch up. . .
This is what Diana Athill has to say about interviews written by Lynn Barber, and it’s a pretty apt description of her own writing.
As is well known, Athill was an esteemed publishing editor throughout her working life (John Updike, V.S. Naipaul and Jean Rhys were among her authors), and wrote a beautiful memoir, called Instead of a Letter, about an early love affair which broke her heart.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in