Level | Item |
Ref No | MEM/PLE |
Title | Personal account by Paul Levy on his career as food and wine editor of The Observer, 1980s |
Date | 30 March 2001 |
Extent | 1 item |
Creator Name | Levy; Paul (1941-); author and broadcaster |
Description | Personal account of Paul Levy's time at The Observer. Paul describes his first appointment at the newspaper as an arts book reviewer. He recalls staff during his early years at the newspaper. He describes an error of fact he printed which led to a libel case in the late 1970s.
When the newspaper was looking for a new style food columnist, to write essays about topics connected with eating in drinking, rather than write essays, he was recommended. He had been writing similar pieces for Harper's & Queen and the New York Times.
Paul describes his first food column and the early awards he won for his food writing. Following his winning a number of awards he was appointed food and wine editor. He describes the appointment of Ann Barr, a former colleague from Harper's & Queen, with whom he co-wrote the 1984 Official Foodie Handbook. He considers the 1980s to have been the golden age of The Observer's food and wine coverage, and that they took the subject of food more seriously than the rest of the Fleet Street newspapers. He recalls the other Observer magazine writers including Angela Mason, Ann Barr, Trevor Grove and Jane Grigson, who were later joined by Raymond Blanc. Paul recalls the food scandals that he helped to uncover.
Paul finishes by describing his departure from the newspaper. He joined the Daily Mail and began writing a weekly lead culture piece for the Wall Street Journal. |
Admin History | Food and Wine editor for The Observer in the 1980s.
He began a career as an academic, leaving academia in 1974, before becoming a freelance jouunalist. He began reviewing books for The Observer in 1974 before joining the newspaper as a food correspondent in 1980 and became food and wine editor in 1982. He held this position until 1992.
During his time on The Observer he introduced the nouvelle cuisine chefs of France to the British public, winning a number of awards.
Arts correspondents for the Wall Street Journal since 1993. He has also contributed to Europe Leisure and Arts; Wine and Food Writer; You Magazine; and The Mail on Sunday since 1993. He has also been a regular contributor to radio and television broadcasting. |
Custodial History | Part of a project by the Observer to gather material for the archive. |
Access Status | Open |
Format | Typescript |
Copyright | Paul Levy |
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