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An Instant New York Times Bestseller

From the glamorous pages of Vanity Fair to Hollywood’s glittering red carpets, Graydon Carter’s memoir takes readers back inside the vibrant era when glossy print magazines reigned supreme as cultural trailblazers.

In 1992, when Graydon Carter was offered the editorship of Vanity Fair, he recognized the magnitude of the challenge he faced: how to uniquely reshape an established and revered magazine. He initially met resistance from a staff still loyal to the previous editor, while also contending with his own reputation as co-founder of the provocative Spy magazine—which had built its brand on satirizing precisely the sort of influential figures that Vanity Fair celebrated. Driven by a relentless curiosity, an eagerness to engage with modern history, and a passion for glamour, Carter quickly won over colleagues, contributors, readers, and even many of the celebrities featured in the magazine’s pages. His efforts established an extraordinary legacy as he successfully helmed Vanity Fair for over two decades.

Lively and richly detailed, When the Going Was Good chronicles Carter’s journey from young journalist arriving in New York from Canada to becoming one of publishing’s most admired editorial talents. He recounts his early professional years at Time, Life, The New York Observer, and Spy before being personally selected by legendary Condé Nast chairman Si Newhouse to take the reins at Vanity Fair. In Newhouse, Carter found a devoted patron who assured him the creative and financial independence crucial to his editorial vision. Under Carter’s tenure, Annie Leibovitz’s striking portraits came to define the magazine’s aesthetic, while signature elements—such as the iconic annual Hollywood issue and the influential “New Establishment” rankings—quickly became cultural staples. Additionally, Carter expanded Vanity Fair’s reach to the West Coast, establishing its celebrated Oscar-night party in Los Angeles.

With wit, charm, and his unmistakable narrative voice, Carter invites readers behind the scenes, recounting intimate lunches, alluring dinners, and unforgettable encounters with influential figures from America, Britain, and continental Europe. He vividly captures how he cultivated an extraordinary team of writers and photographers, skillfully navigating the print magazine industry through an era of radical transformation with the rise of digital media. Insightful, candid, and compellingly told, When the Going Was Good offers an intimate insider perspective of the final dazzling years of print publishing’s golden age.