Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Kindle
$14.99

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$16.31

Paperback
$13.99

$16.31 with 46 percent savings

List Price: $29.99

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Friday, June 7 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).

$$16.31 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$12.44

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

Like New - Minor shelf wear Like New - Minor shelf wear See less

FREE delivery Saturday, June 8 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$16.31 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Sold by Collectiblecounty and Fulfilled by Amazon.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (98) from $4.22 + $3.98 shipping

Review of Anna The Biography/Worth a read?Marie Dubuque

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Amy Odell

Follow

Anna: The Biography Hardcover – May 3, 2022

by Amy Odell (Author)

4.3 1,039 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

See all formats and editions

Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Try again.

Great on Kindle

Great Experience. Great Value.

Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

View Kindle Edition

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.31","priceAmount":16.31,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"31","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"l9Hc43vWR%2FKWExClfuUUKc3lElGcgAnNF1GC3TqIeuZ5UBit3EG8yVsEI28JBOChyYtleugthR8epn0yZXpnPJrsR0%2F57CaW6xTt4zOS3L1AvGsnGJwRI%2FutUg%2B1FneSp9L%2BrE4HuBQbWGhNls33wQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$12.44","priceAmount":12.44,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"44","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"l9Hc43vWR%2FKWExClfuUUKc3lElGcgAnNYtDRPO%2BO6KfDecvELeWFwS1Ji8OzjI1HE7lWBpZLX3V8NkE1P6se0jwMRG60Zgc7iYg9fK6iMzH04a68ZlNHBne4ZxazuIjVgA63gnqYbax5ONVO2Po9LyFf2G%2Fxv7%2BmhFwWxJwvtozrYanoLIUnMLUljE1tOKne","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Bloomberg’s 10 Most Compelling Books to Put on Your Reading List This Spring

This definitive biography of Anna Wintour 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.

Based on extensive interviews with Anna Wintour’s closest friends and collaborators, including some of the biggest names in fashion, journalist Amy Odell has crafted the most revealing portrait of Wintour ever published. 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.

Print length

464 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Gallery Books
Publication date

May 3, 2022
Dimensions

6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1982122633
ISBN-13

978-1982122638
See all details

Frequently bought together

$16.31

Get it as soon as Friday, Jun 7

Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$17.35

Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$19.10

Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Some of these items ship sooner than the others.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

Ryan T Cox
2
Paperback
1 offer from $13.97
Alberto Oliva
639
Hardcover
55 offers from $29.01
Sunita Kumar Nair
228
Hardcover
in Fashion Models
50 offers from $33.87
Grace Coddington
718
Hardcover
122 offers from $3.12
André Leon Talley
4,555
Hardcover
105 offers from $1.99
William Middleton
138
Hardcover
64 offers from $7.72

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A wealth of delightful details…Odell’s insights into how fashion magazines work (or worked) are fascinating….You’ll walk away knowing every step—and misstep—in Wintour’s famous ascent to the heights of magazinedom.”
—The New York Times

“Amy Odell’s new book is a wonderful romp through Wintour’s world: couture at its juiciest. But it is more than that: an intimate guide to how the queen of fashion built and manages her magic kingdom.”
—The Washington Post

“A dissection of one of fashion’s most controversial figures and a window into the glossy pages of Vogue, Amy Odell’s definitive Anna Wintour bio balances criticism with understanding and stories of true sadism: Imagine telling Oprah to lose 20 pounds for a cover.”
—Rolling Stone

“Having interviewed over 250 sources (many of whom are unforgettable and quotable characters themselves)… Odell takes readers through Wintour's lifelong love of fashion, her personal life and romantic relationships, and, primarily, her decades-long career... While Odell's nimble writing moves at a clip, the extent and detail here make this perfect for fashion devotees and fans of publishing industry tales as Anna's career coincides with sea changes in magazine journalism.”
—Booklist, Starred review

“The secret to [Anna’s] longevity is the subject of Odell’s biography, which is drawn from interviews with Wintour’s tightknit inner circle. Given that she’s famously private and notoriously aloof, the participation of intimates in the book’s reporting indicates a green light from Wintour herself. But Odell is unsparing, detailing Wintour’s ambitious rise and ruthless power grabs, dotting the narrative with a healthy amount of gossip and color.”
—Bloomberg Businessweek

“What scintillates…are the intimate details about a famously inscrutable subject…as well as the blunt treatment of Wintour’s more problematic sides…. [a] fascinating look at an enigmatic figure.”
–Publisher’s Weekly

“The most comprehensive biography of the media icon… [Anna] fascinates with Odell’s well-documented account of Wintour’s broad influence.”
—Library Journal

Anna: The Biography pulls off a rare feat. It’s a comprehensive and balanced look at Wintour’s long, storied, and often controversial career, but it’s also a great read.
— Texas Monthly

“[A] stunningly thorough, balanced, humanizing portrait of the most powerful woman working in fashion, and one of the most powerful business leaders in America…. After speaking with over 250 sources and poring over letters and magazines, Odell gives us countless juicier, more illuminating details to gobble up.”
—The Cut

“A highly detailed and revelatory portrait of a very private figure.”
—CNN.com

“A fascinating portrait of the secretive queen of fashion. The devil is in the detail.”
–Andrew Morton, New York Times bestselling author of Diana: Her True Story

“The details of Anna Wintour’s life have been kept as tantalizingly hidden as her eyes behind her trademark sunglasses. This book tells her stunning story. Extraordinarily sweeping, astute, and unputdownable.”
—Sheila Weller, New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge and Girls Like Us

“Anna is brilliantly written and well-researched, full of the kinds of details you've always wanted to know about Wintour's early life, and the ways in which she used her considerable gifts to amass astonishing, and enduring, power and influence.”
—Laurie Woolever, author of Bourdain, The Definitive Oral Biography

“Anna serves up Wintour A to Z, in page-turning detail. A dazzling and exhaustive deep dive into the ruthless, glittering world of fashion media and one of its most iconic empresses.”
—Lisa Napoli, Author of Susan, Linda, Nina, & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR

“Odell takes her readers behind Wintour’s iconic bob and sunglasses in this deeply researched account, delivering a close-up view of the most powerful woman in fashion.”
—Sara Gay Forden, author of House of Gucci: A True Story of Murder, Madness, Glamor and Greed

About the Author

Amy Odell is a fashion and culture journalist. Her work has appeared in New York magazine, The Economist’s 1843, Bloomberg Businessweek, and numerous other publications. She is the author of Anna and Tales from the Back Row. Find out more at AmyOdell.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (May 3, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982122633
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982122638
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #91,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #93 in Journalist Biographies
- #117 in Fashion (Books)
- #125 in Women & Business (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 1,039 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Amy Odell

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Amy Odell is a fashion journalist whose work has appeared in New York magazine, Time, Bloomberg Businessweek, and numerous other publications. She lives in Westchester with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

1,039 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Adam Torres

Listened to the Audiobook twice!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024

Verified Purchase

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I'm pleased I took the recommendation. The writing style was informative, entertaining and moved quickly. I found myself listening to the audiobook much longer than I had intended too. Highly recommend for someone who is new to the legend of Anna, or even highly studied fans of her work. I think there is something for everyone in this book.

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

I read a lot of biographies and memoirs and I just finished “Anna: The Biography” by Amy Odell. “Anna” is Anna Wintour, the most famous person in the fashion industry and one of the most famous in the publishing business.
She’s been editor of Vogue for 25 years, and in addition, she’s high up in the grander Condé Nast empire. She’s been employed by other magazines on her way up to publishing pinnacle, Vogue editor.

Amy Odell has written a good, serviceable biography of Wintour. I’m not sure if it is an “authorized” bio but I think Anna Wintour offered the cooperation of people close to her to Odell. This is important because Wintour is famously a private person. Much of the info within the book has been gathered from other sources, other interviews, other memoirs…. For instance, Odell takes much from Andre Leon Talley and his second memoir, “The Chiffon Chronicles” (which is also worth reading). Other friends and detractors also contribute.

Getting back to reading a biography; a book can be written as either “pro” or “con” towards the subject. This is particularly true of bios of the Royal Family, which in particular, are examples of the “pro” Charles or “pro” Diana, “pro” Meghan or “pro” The Queen. Those bios tend to be quite boring after a while because they are so relentlessly…biased.

But Amy Odell’s bio is written pretty much straight down the line. I honestly couldn’t tell how Odell felt about either the fashion world, in general or about Anna Wintour, in particular. And that ambiguous writing style is a boon to the reader, who doesn’t feel the need to mentally defend or castigate the book’s subject.

It’s a good book and there are pictures in the back. If you like fashion, you’ll probably like this book.

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kelsey Topper

Anna gives us a real, fleshed out person

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

You may think you know what Anna Wintour is really like from the film “The Devil Were Prada.” Meryl Streep was unforgettable as the Anna character Amanda Priestly, and she dripped snootiness and disdain as much as her outfits dripped haute couture. While great entertainment, the film shows one side of the real Anna Wintour. Amy Odell’s Anna gives the reader the fleshed out picture of a real person. Anna is very well researched and fair with lots of surprising and interesting details. I was engrossed by what really goes on behind the scenes of the Met Gala and how Anna Wintour made her way up the ranks of the fashion magazine world from a teenage intern in London (looked down on by her intellectual family) to head honcho at Conde Nast and friends with a who’s who of fashion, politics and Hollywood. It’s a fascinating read about how these worlds intersect, and I heartily recommend.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

AS

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

Very good book and extremely well written. You would like to finish it in a single seating: even if it’s a biography, it’s very engaging and you just want to keep reading. I would definitely advise to buy it!

Helpful

GardenZen

Started strong but flamed out

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

The first third of the book is interesting, as it reveals insights into a part of Anna's life (pre Vogue) that's not commonly known. There's a lot of detail and it's not all rosy and often thoughtful. From 2000 on the book is a waste of time. It reads like a PR brief. From 2008 to present Conde has been in a death spiral. One would think the book would provide a deeper view into the organizational dynamics and shed some light as to why Anna's power has increased while the Vogue ad pages have disappeared and Conde has had to shutter many a magazine, fire many people and prune the perks. Why does she still have a job especially after Si died? Who knows, you certainly won't learn anything from this book.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

J W R

Rigorous, juicy, authoritative, thoughtful & empathetic must-read

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2022

Verified Purchase

If you're passionate and curious about fashion, media, publishing, pop culture, and/or the interplay of all of the above — and how singularly focused, ambitious, and sometimes divisive/misunderstood power players (especially women) shape these things, THIS is your book. Amy Odell's exhaustive research and access, combined with her sharp insight, sly humor and intuitive sense of Anna Wintour's psychology and intent make this biography both definitive and gripping. A must-read for Spring/Summer, and then Fall/Spring...read it!

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Paola Núñez

Anna

Reviewed in Mexico on December 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

El libro llegó en muy buen estado

Translate review to English

Flavia Gal

Inspiradora

Reviewed in Brazil on June 19, 2022

Verified Purchase

AW é inquestionavelmente a pessoa mais poderosa da moda, e faz alguns anos. É inspirador ler o quanto ela se dedica ao trabalho e o livro retrata uma figura humana, bem diferente das fantasias de O diabo veste Prada. Recomendo a leitura de " The chiffon trenches", a biografia escrita por Andre Leon Telley - em que ele a descreve como péssima - para se ter uma clara idéia de que toda história tem dois lados e sem o livro dificilmente conheceríamos o dela.
Adorei a leitura.

3 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

MB

A very disappointing, superficial account

Reviewed in Italy on February 3, 2024

Verified Purchase

A missed opportunity, in front of which one is urged to rediscover Jerry Oppenheimer's critical insight.

Yvonne Hart

Very interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

Well written

Ceebs

Loved the peek into Anna's life and world

Reviewed in India on July 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed reading about Anna's early life and of course, her ascent to power at Vogue. She is complex, ruthless, machiavellian, and I think I would have lasted only a few days working under her micromanagey and dismissive style. However, her work ethic, dedication, powers of persuasion, and resiliency in the face of many many hurdles over her tenure are admirable qualities. I enjoyed the book and what I take away for myself is a little motivation to build a routine around streamlining certain parts of my ordinary life and prioritizing certain others to achieve my own teeny tiny personal goals, far from Vogue's madding crowd.

See more reviews

Return this item for free

Return this item for free

Image Unavailable

Follow the author