Memories: The Charms and Follies of a Lifetime’s Publishing

Memories: The Charms and Follies of a Lifetime’s Publishing, Naim Attallah, Quartet Books, £15
As he approaches 90, the legendary publisher Naim Attallah looks back in Memories, a ‘potpourri of vignettes’ from his long career. It’s populated by beautiful women, rubber dresses, literati and socialites. There are parties and indiscretions, fallings out (including one with Tatler in the 90s) and run-ins with John Updike, Margot Fonteyn, Tina Brown and Leni Riefenstahl. Related with a lightness of touch and waggish charm, there are plenty of amusing nuggets to be discovered in this memoir.