Last year, the New York Times published an intriguing quiz titled “Could You Have Landed a Job at Vogue in the 90s?” This quiz drew inspiration from the iconic four-page evaluation that Anna Wintour required of potential assistants—a thorough test of cultural literacy featuring 178 important figures, places, literature, and films. Regrettably for me, a former intern at (British) Vogue, I fell short: wrong era and wrong nationality.
A standout candidate who would undoubtedly thrive in such an habitat is Caroline Palmer. Once part of the Vogue team and now an accomplished author, her novel Workhorse unfolds against the backdrop of “the magazine” during its final flourish in an age dominated by women’s glossy publications. Within this lavish world—where extravagant lunches flowed with wine and couture was frequently enough complimentary—readers meet Clodagh (or Clo), a twenty-something navigating through a landscape filled with affluent and stunningly beautiful “show horses,” all vying for success.
The realm of women’s magazines has a rich literary heritage—from The bell Jar to The Devil wears Prada. A common narrative thread is frequently enough referred to as the “young woman’s journey in New York City,” with notable works like The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing,Rules of Civility,and My Salinger Year coming to mind. Additionally prevalent is the grifter storyline (think The Talented Mr. Ripley or Emma Cline’s the Guest), which resonates deeply within American culture—a society where reinvention seems perpetually possible without entrenched aristocracy. Workhorse checks many boxes that piqued publishers’ interest; it even features one of today’s most compelling character types: an unlikable protagonist.
Clo exhibits traits such as deceitfulness, tendencies toward theft, and struggles with alcoholism while wrestling with class envy and internalized misogyny. Her observations about other women can be both sharply critical yet humorously relatable: “she looks notably haggard tonight under those unforgiving kitchen lights—like spotting a famous actress buying bananas at a corner store.” This sentiment aligns perfectly with her environment where comments like “nothing is more repulsive then watching a woman nibble on hors d’oeuvres at cocktail gatherings” are commonplace. Despite Clo’s unpleasant demeanor—common in narratives like these—you find yourself rooting for her initially as she evolves from being an undervalued assistant into securing an Upper East Side apartment along with an editorial role. Following her journey proves quite entertaining; Palmer’s sharp wit shines through Clo’s keen insights into fashion industry eccentricities.
Though, one challenge faced by this novel lies within its length—it isn’t that young women lack merit for expansive narratives akin to Goldfinch-length epics; rather I found myself wishing my time spent within Clo’s psyche wasn’t so prolonged. At over 500 pages long, immersing oneself in anyone’s thoughts for such duration can feel excessive. perhaps employing close third-person narration might have enhanced reader engagement? Regardless of viewpoint choice—I believe trimming down about one-third could have significantly benefited this work; doing so would allow some truly exceptional writing moments—like Palmer’s vivid depiction of a power outage in New York—to shine even brighter.
The superficiality and cutthroat nature inherent within fashion circles are hardly new revelations—the publication date for The Devil Wears Prada was two decades ago—and we now find ourselves navigating life post-Wintour era.It raises questions regarding how much interest contemporary readers will hold towards another nostalgic reflection on magazine publishing glory days? Personally speaking though—I relished glimpses into glamorous lifestyles despite always feeling reminiscent—as if entering just as Bungalow 8 closed its doors behind me! What elevates Workhorse beyond mere nostalgia lies deeper explorations surrounding emotional burdens carried by perpetual outsiders—the weighty toll ambition exacts alongside envy leading individuals toward burning through entire decades overnight! As articulated poignantly by one character: “You grow up seeking answers… Will I marry? Have children? Land my dream job? Yet when those answers arrive—they frequently enough feel disheartening.”
Workhorse authored by Caroline Palmer is available via 4th Estate (£16.99). To support independant journalism order your copy from guardianbookshop.com. Note delivery fees may apply.