Toby Young British journalist Date of Birth: 17.10.1963 Country: Great Britain

1. Toby Young: A Biography
2. Early Life and Education
3. Journey in Journalism
4. Career at Vanity Fair
5. Later Career and Achievements

Toby Young: A Biography

Toby Daniel Moorsom Young was born on October 17, 1963. He is a British journalist and author known for his sharp-witted style. Young gained fame through his autobiographical work "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People," which chronicles his career at "Vanity Fair" magazine. He also wrote "The Sound of No Hands Clapping," a book about his adventures on the West Coast. Often referred to as the "heterosexual British Truman Capote," Young has garnered both fans and critics for his writing.

Early Life and Education

Toby Young was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, Harvard, and Trinity College, Cambridge. It was during his time at Oxford that Young launched a magazine called "The Danube," which sparked his interest in journalism.

Journey in Journalism

After leaving Oxford in 1986, Young began working for "The Times." However, he was later dismissed from the publication. He then moved to Harvard, where he assisted in teaching at the Arts and Sciences graduate program and developed an interest in the satirical magazine "Spy." Upon returning to the UK in 1988, Young became a lecturer's assistant at Cambridge University, working in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.

In 1991, Young co-founded the magazine "Modern Review" with Julie Burchill and her then-husband Cosmo Landesman. However, due to financial reasons, the magazine closed in 1995. Young's decision to shut down the publication led to a scandal involving Peter York, the project's finance director, Julie Burchill, and her lover Charlotte Raven.

Career at Vanity Fair

After the closure of "Modern Review," Young relocated to New York, where he secured a position at "Vanity Fair" magazine. His tenure at the publication, which lasted almost three years, was marked by his brash and audacious style, often overshadowing his colleagues. His book "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" recounts this period and his attempts to conquer Manhattan with his "negative charisma."

Later Career and Achievements

Following the expiration of his contract with "Vanity Fair" in 1998, Young spent an additional two years in New York, writing a column for the "New York Press." In 2000, he returned to the UK and currently serves as an editor and columnist for "The Spectator."

Young's memoirs were adapted into a theatrical production and later transformed into a film titled "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People." The movie, released in the UK on October 3, 2008, starred renowned British actor Simon Pegg and topped the box office in its first week.

In his current endeavors, Young leads the parent committee in an effort to secure government funding for a new secondary school in Acton.

Throughout his career, Toby Young has made a name for himself as a provocative and influential figure in journalism and literature.