Anna

The Biography

By: Amy Odell

Narrated by: Imogen Church

This definitive New York Times bestselling biography of Anna Wintour, now featuring a new afterword, follows the steep climb of an ambitious young woman who would—with singular and legendary focus—become one of the most powerful people in media.

As a child, Anna Wintour was a tomboy with no apparent interest in clothing but, seduced by the miniskirts and bob haircuts of swinging 1960s London, she grew into a fashion-obsessed teenager. Her father, an influential newspaper editor, loomed large in her life, and once he decided she should become editor-in-chief of Vogue, she never looked back.

Impatient to start her career, she left high school and got a job at a trendy boutique in London—an experience that would be the first of many defeats. Undeterred, she found work in the competitive world of magazines, eventually embarking on a journey to New York and a battle to ascend, no matter who or what stood in her way. Once she was crowned editor-in-chief of Vogue—in one of the stormiest transitions in fashion magazine history—she continued the fight to retain her enviable position, ultimately rising to dominate all of Condé Nast.

Named one of Time’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2022, this in-depth and revealing biography is based on extensive interviews with Anna Wintour’s closest friends and collaborators. Weaving Anna’s personal story into a larger narrative about the hierarchical dynamics of the fashion industry and the complex world of Condé Nast, Anna charts the relentless ambition of the woman who would become an icon.

Critic reviews

"Church’s expert performance captures the frenetic pace of the fashion world through Anna’s spicy exploits on her way to the top of the haute couture world as editor-in-chief of VOGUE magazine. Anna had two sides: her ambitious, driven side and her devoted, maternal side. Church delivers both sides of Anna with equal passion and delight in this delicious and masterful presentation."

Extremely well written biography

I loved this biography. Amy Odell did exhaustive research and interviews from Anna’s early life to the present. The people associated painted a vivid picture of a person who is such and enigma in so many ways. The reader is very reserved. Others have found her boring but I felt that she was a perfect tone for a woman who is half-British and publicly, very reserved. Great read!

Storyline was okay until it turned political at the end.

I Don’t want to learn about her view of politics. We hear enough about that in the news.

Fashion Icon

Enjoyed reading, learning more about one of the Fashion Icons of time, So glad she finally came around to accepting, presenting and supporting Black fashion, Designers and Artist; though not her total fault of ignorance but the times of others ignorance and prejudice towards Blacks in general. Anna thank yo for opening your eyes and heart to what should have been from the beginning. This 2025 Meg Gala was history in the making. I admire Anna for not stopping, being a 'bitch' can pay off and is it that or just standing your grounds and setting your own standards in general. If I when in college freshman year had a fashion design teacher (Columbia College, Columbia MO) will never forget 'Mrs. Scroggins' whom I had to learn I allowed her to break, ruined my dreams of becoming a dress designer by her prejudice, mean and cruel words I may have grown up and been on Anna's payroll. Wishful thinking but wanted to be a Black Bob Mackie of evening dresses,
Keep wearing your shades and being you!

Stunning

In this book you will learn why Ana acts the way she is . I judged her before but now I understand why she has been a good editor in chief for many years . you will learn fashion industry is not easy as you think it is .

I think it could use a bit of editing

There are so many good stories I can see how it would be hard to edit but I found myself not wanting ALL of them. Because of this I never got through the book. If you want all the details this could be a good book for you.