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After Andy: Adventures in Warhol Land
After Andy is Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's insider's account of working in Andy Warhol's studio and Interview magazine, and explores Warhol's impact on the art world, pop culture, society, and fashion--and how his iconic status gave rise to some of our most influential tastemakers today.
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's After Andy is a memoir of the influence that Andy Warhol exerted throughout his life and beyond. Fraser-Cavassoni met the artist on and off over the years before landing in New York City at the Andy Warhol Studio, or as she calls it, "Adventures in Warhol Land." In this witty, page-turning account, she takes readers deep into the Pop artist's world--as well as miles into the stratosphere of the socialites, fashion icons, film stars, rock legends, and art world powerhouses who could be found in his orbit--where she worked with Fred Hughes, Brigid Berlin, Vincent Fremont, and others who were once part of the Factory clan. As the last person hired at the studio before Warhol died in 1987, Fraser-Cavassoni saw firsthand the end of an era and the establishment of a global phenomenon. From the behind-the-scenes disagreements and the assessment of his estate, which included Interview magazine and his art inventory, to the record-breaking auction of his belongings and the publication of his diaries, Fraser-Cavassoni examines the immediate aftermath of Warhol's death and his ever-growing impact, which ranged from New York to Los Angeles and throughout Europe. Interviews with key figures of the art world and dozens of Andy intimates make After Andy and its subject more relevant than ever today.
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's After Andy is a memoir of the influence that Andy Warhol exerted throughout his life and beyond. Fraser-Cavassoni met the artist on and off over the years before landing in New York City at the Andy Warhol Studio, or as she calls it, "Adventures in Warhol Land." In this witty, page-turning account, she takes readers deep into the Pop artist's world--as well as miles into the stratosphere of the socialites, fashion icons, film stars, rock legends, and art world powerhouses who could be found in his orbit--where she worked with Fred Hughes, Brigid Berlin, Vincent Fremont, and others who were once part of the Factory clan. As the last person hired at the studio before Warhol died in 1987, Fraser-Cavassoni saw firsthand the end of an era and the establishment of a global phenomenon. From the behind-the-scenes disagreements and the assessment of his estate, which included Interview magazine and his art inventory, to the record-breaking auction of his belongings and the publication of his diaries, Fraser-Cavassoni examines the immediate aftermath of Warhol's death and his ever-growing impact, which ranged from New York to Los Angeles and throughout Europe. Interviews with key figures of the art world and dozens of Andy intimates make After Andy and its subject more relevant than ever today.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2017
18 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 10, 2025
DNF at about 50%. Lord, I can't deal with another memoir from a spoiled rich child of famous people, disguised as a narrative about something interesting, but really just a vehicle for said child of famous people to brag about all the other famous people she knows. My first impression, based on the blurb, was that this book was somehow going to be about Andy Warhol. It starts with the author being hired four days before his death, and from there is just a list of celebrities she's hobnobbed with. Occasionally the list is punctuated with a verb or adjective. There is no sense of cohesion, just endless rambling. Every few pages the author tosses in quotes from people who knew Andy (quotes, by the way, that were mainly sourced from other interviews) just to bring the theme back around. If you grew up poor and really want to be pissed, read the chapter about how punk the author was in the 70s while attending her fancy private all-girls' boarding school. One time she convinced her friend, a literal princess, to set off a stink bomb during fencing class. Clutch. Your. Pearls. Worthless. Every time I get suckered into reading one of these books by a big-name journalist for well-known magazines I always regret it. Skip it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2017
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni was hired to work at Andy Warhol's studio four days before Warhol's death on February 22, 1987. Although their working relationship was brief, Fraser-Cavassoni (Sam Spiegel: The Biography of a Hollywood Legend) had met the pop artist seven years earlier, when she was 16. In 1980, Fraser-Cavassoni, the daughter of novelist and historian Lady Antonia Fraser and step-daughter of playwright Harold Pinter, was already running with a fast, glittery crowd and was months away from an affair with Mick Jagger ("Mick had the power to intoxicate") that landed her, Jagger and Jerry Hall in national tabloid headlines.
The bewigged Warhol is definitely a supporting player in this flashy, name-dropping memoir, but fortunately Fraser-Cavassoni's jet-set life, celebrity encounters and high-profile jobs make for a fast read and a gossipy good time. With jobs at Interview, Women's Wear Daily and W magazines, she was at all the art, fashion and film parties. Anna Wintour helped her get hired working under Karl Lagerfeld at the Chanel Studio, while aging cosmetics pioneer Estée Lauder threatened to have her deported.
When the focus turns to Warhol and the running of his empire after his early death (he died at 58 from complications after gall bladder surgery), Fraser-Cavassoni offers a front row seat at the jockeying for power, the marketing of his image and the posthumous publication of Warhol's diaries in 1989, which caused uproar among fashionable society. AFTER ANDY reads like a delicious gossip column covering the wild antics of those in the art and fashion world.
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's AFTER ANDY shares her deliciously gossipy view of the fashion/film/art world from her front row seat at Andy Warhol's studio.
The bewigged Warhol is definitely a supporting player in this flashy, name-dropping memoir, but fortunately Fraser-Cavassoni's jet-set life, celebrity encounters and high-profile jobs make for a fast read and a gossipy good time. With jobs at Interview, Women's Wear Daily and W magazines, she was at all the art, fashion and film parties. Anna Wintour helped her get hired working under Karl Lagerfeld at the Chanel Studio, while aging cosmetics pioneer Estée Lauder threatened to have her deported.
When the focus turns to Warhol and the running of his empire after his early death (he died at 58 from complications after gall bladder surgery), Fraser-Cavassoni offers a front row seat at the jockeying for power, the marketing of his image and the posthumous publication of Warhol's diaries in 1989, which caused uproar among fashionable society. AFTER ANDY reads like a delicious gossip column covering the wild antics of those in the art and fashion world.
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni's AFTER ANDY shares her deliciously gossipy view of the fashion/film/art world from her front row seat at Andy Warhol's studio.
May 26, 2018
TL;DR: Not enough Warhol, too much about Natasha and all of these other celebrities.
This is pretty much "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: Artists famous during the 70's/80's edition", which could be good but is ultimate bland and something I don't care about. I enjoy the context behind artists' work, but this doesn't really go behind that (at least not to the extent I wanted it to).
This is pretty much "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: Artists famous during the 70's/80's edition", which could be good but is ultimate bland and something I don't care about. I enjoy the context behind artists' work, but this doesn't really go behind that (at least not to the extent I wanted it to).
January 31, 2022
I wanted to learn more about Andy not read the mundane experiences of some random rich girl!
August 12, 2018
I couldn't finish this book. Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni is a well connected British woman who's first big experience in Warholland was Andy Warhols funeral. This book is basically a memoir of a well connected person who ends up in the same circle as Warhol and his people. The book is filled with name dropping and the love of the famous, which she says is something she and Andy had in common (no doubt). But at the end of the day it was too much for me.
September 8, 2018
A terrible book. Couldn’t keep reading. A true(?) story, told by the author of her privileged upbringing and pompous perspective on life and those around her. Pathetic. Don’t waste 1 sec. of your time.
December 26, 2023
Really disappointed.
As a warhol fan the recent netflix show reinvigorated my interest to learn more.
Unfortunately the author appears to have used andys name to name drop about her own privileged upbringing with very little empathy to how she may come across to others.
Shame.
As a warhol fan the recent netflix show reinvigorated my interest to learn more.
Unfortunately the author appears to have used andys name to name drop about her own privileged upbringing with very little empathy to how she may come across to others.
Shame.
April 4, 2025
An endlessly quotable babbling , from a brainless celebrity culture world.
-ab-
-ab-
January 19, 2025
Every paragraph of this book essentially reads like this:
(Please read with a posh British accent) “I was laying out by a French billionaires pool when Mick Jagger popped in with his latest girlfriend, the 19-year-old niece of Sylvia Plath. We all drank champagne and did cocaine with Jack Nicholson, who was accompanied by a redhead with an incredible figure. It was a situation Andy would have loved, and I know that because I worked with Andy for a cumulative 4 weeks.”
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this goofy, fluff read. It’s marketed as a biography of Andy Warhol, and while I learned a lot of cool stuff about Andy, it’s more of a memoir for Natasha Frasier.
Not everyone will enjoy the reminiscings of a very privileged English woman. Fraser details a world of unimaginable wealth and nepotism. Do I think this world is ethical? No. Did I have fun reading about their drama? Yes. (Note: if you’re going to say your family struggled for money growing up, you should probably delete the paragraph in the chapter before about your Scotland estate with tennis courts and libraries).
However grating this lack of awareness can be, the book excelled because of it, not despite it. Fraser’s posh accent in the audiobook was griping, it felt like a 12-hour gab session with your new, rich, British friend. It was the perfect book to read after a heavy non-fiction novel. Would recommend this audiobook if you have a long, boring project ahead of you.
(Please read with a posh British accent) “I was laying out by a French billionaires pool when Mick Jagger popped in with his latest girlfriend, the 19-year-old niece of Sylvia Plath. We all drank champagne and did cocaine with Jack Nicholson, who was accompanied by a redhead with an incredible figure. It was a situation Andy would have loved, and I know that because I worked with Andy for a cumulative 4 weeks.”
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this goofy, fluff read. It’s marketed as a biography of Andy Warhol, and while I learned a lot of cool stuff about Andy, it’s more of a memoir for Natasha Frasier.
Not everyone will enjoy the reminiscings of a very privileged English woman. Fraser details a world of unimaginable wealth and nepotism. Do I think this world is ethical? No. Did I have fun reading about their drama? Yes. (Note: if you’re going to say your family struggled for money growing up, you should probably delete the paragraph in the chapter before about your Scotland estate with tennis courts and libraries).
However grating this lack of awareness can be, the book excelled because of it, not despite it. Fraser’s posh accent in the audiobook was griping, it felt like a 12-hour gab session with your new, rich, British friend. It was the perfect book to read after a heavy non-fiction novel. Would recommend this audiobook if you have a long, boring project ahead of you.
August 18, 2024
After Andy is pure delight. I live for a wonderful memoir centering on enigmatic figures of arts and culture and Natasha offers up something special.
Moving beyond the Warhol mythos, she proffers a compelling peek into the multi-faceted realm of the glitterati, replete with society figures, artists, literal royalty and fashion greats, et al.
While Warhol isn’t the centerpiece of the book, he is the through line. And via the juicy story of Natasha herself, we glimpse just how interwoven this seemingly untouchable world was. More than a fly on the wall, she was an insider by feature of her upbringing, her social world and later the vagaries of her creative and professional impulses.
While some may argue there isn’t enough Warhol present, her world *was* “Warhol Land” as his beau monde figures into his legacy and lasting influence. And Natasha dishes gleefully on it all, from her stealthy position right in the middle of it.
Moving beyond the Warhol mythos, she proffers a compelling peek into the multi-faceted realm of the glitterati, replete with society figures, artists, literal royalty and fashion greats, et al.
While Warhol isn’t the centerpiece of the book, he is the through line. And via the juicy story of Natasha herself, we glimpse just how interwoven this seemingly untouchable world was. More than a fly on the wall, she was an insider by feature of her upbringing, her social world and later the vagaries of her creative and professional impulses.
While some may argue there isn’t enough Warhol present, her world *was* “Warhol Land” as his beau monde figures into his legacy and lasting influence. And Natasha dishes gleefully on it all, from her stealthy position right in the middle of it.
August 26, 2017
“When I moved to Manhattan, Andy Warhol’s memorial was my first New York society event.” This is the first line of Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni’s new memoir, and there are two important items to note. The first is that she was hired to work at Warhol’s studio four days before he died in 1987. The second is that, while this might have been Fraser-Cavassoni’s first New York society event, it was hardly her introduction to society—she’s the daughter of Lady Antonio Fraser and a conservative MP, not to mention the stepdaughter of Harold Pinter. The author’s connection to Warhol allows her to offer a fascinating look at the construction of his legacy after his death, but her own life is equally compelling. Fraser-Cavassoni worked with Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, she had an affair with Mick Jagger, and her memoir takes the reader from London in the 70s to New York in the 80s and Paris in the 90s.
July 11, 2020
This book is not as advertised. At all.
About one third actually talks about Warhol and his empire. The rest focuses on the antics of the author, the daughter of a renowned English writer. She complains about her social status and complains about having no money but in the next breath name drops virtually every socialite she associates with.
In fact, Mick Jagger and her affair with him or her employment at Chanel is probably as much, if not more of a focus than Andy Warhol.
I gave the ⭐️⭐️ because the one third of the book that actually discusses Andy is interesting. This is certainly a case of the writer using Andy’s name to sell copies of her memoir which doesn’t sit well with me. If your story is as engaging enough to write a memoir, you don’t need to use someone else’s name to sell it.
About one third actually talks about Warhol and his empire. The rest focuses on the antics of the author, the daughter of a renowned English writer. She complains about her social status and complains about having no money but in the next breath name drops virtually every socialite she associates with.
In fact, Mick Jagger and her affair with him or her employment at Chanel is probably as much, if not more of a focus than Andy Warhol.
I gave the ⭐️⭐️ because the one third of the book that actually discusses Andy is interesting. This is certainly a case of the writer using Andy’s name to sell copies of her memoir which doesn’t sit well with me. If your story is as engaging enough to write a memoir, you don’t need to use someone else’s name to sell it.
September 15, 2017
Fraser Cavassoni's memoir takes the reader through two decades of a young woman struggling to find her place in a world of London notoriety, New York's Warhol, Hollywood celebrities, and Paris fashion.
Her striving is relatable even if at times it’s with a referral from Anna Wintour and famous parents. To be expected is sex, drugs and rock & roll thrown into the mix. It’s part SATC, Madmen and a little Gossip Girl. So if you're a fan of those three, you'll love this especially if you're a child of the 80's.
It is a little heavy on the name dropping at times and not completely PC. However, as a former student of the author, I highly recommend After Andy. I came away entertained, informed and maybe even inspired to become an unlikely heroine in my journey.
Her striving is relatable even if at times it’s with a referral from Anna Wintour and famous parents. To be expected is sex, drugs and rock & roll thrown into the mix. It’s part SATC, Madmen and a little Gossip Girl. So if you're a fan of those three, you'll love this especially if you're a child of the 80's.
It is a little heavy on the name dropping at times and not completely PC. However, as a former student of the author, I highly recommend After Andy. I came away entertained, informed and maybe even inspired to become an unlikely heroine in my journey.
October 9, 2017
Who was Andy Warhol? What would it have been like to work for him? Natasha was there and this book gives you an inside look of the time that Andy lived and the circles in which he moved.
I admit, I studied Andy for an art project in high school and found him to be mysterious, unique and a futurist. I recently saw an exhibition of some of his work in person; something I had always dreamed of. It was magical, ordinary and bright.
There were a few Bowie references and as a Bowie fangirl it was cool to read about. I didn't know that Andy wrote diaries that were later published-something I will read in future.
A cool read about an artist who influenced so many in his quiet, observant, off-beat way.
I admit, I studied Andy for an art project in high school and found him to be mysterious, unique and a futurist. I recently saw an exhibition of some of his work in person; something I had always dreamed of. It was magical, ordinary and bright.
There were a few Bowie references and as a Bowie fangirl it was cool to read about. I didn't know that Andy wrote diaries that were later published-something I will read in future.
A cool read about an artist who influenced so many in his quiet, observant, off-beat way.
November 8, 2020
Why does this author make us suffer through a long account of her personal history? We are happy for you that you grew up in a wealthy and privileged household, but I found myself held hostage while you went on and on about your childhood and family history. I began pulling out my hair waiting to get to the point of the book - namely Warhol! After reading the reviews by other readers I decided to stop reading this book. There are too many good books out there waiting to be read to waste time on this garbage.
July 19, 2023
This book was misleading as it seemed to be about Andy Warhol and the effect of his death on the art world but 80 pages in and mostly it's talk about the authors privileged upbringing and all the famous people she's met that are only loosely linked to Andy. I'm giving it 2 stars instead of one because it might be interesting if the author was known to you but I am not familiar with her and not interested in her story.
August 30, 2017
Thank You Goodreads for sending me After Andy: Adventures in Warhol Land By Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni. Honestly, I can't add anything above and beyond Kevin's review. He is spot on. I totally agree with his take on this book
September 5, 2017
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni examines her early career through the lens of her connection with Andy Warhol and other celebrities. This result is a fun, dishy read, but that's not all. It has heart and depth, too.
September 7, 2017
Couldn't put it down!! Such a fun, witty and clever description of an era! Love her style of writing, Natasha F-C captures with a twist and turn of her pen a hint of naughty-ness and tong in cheek she laughs at the art world of the 80's!
November 1, 2017
Interesting, short read about life of Andy Warhol, and the rich and famous. Quite Amusing. I lead such a plain and simple life.
April 19, 2019
Not my cup of tea.
September 8, 2019
Interesting stuff
January 21, 2024
Impeccable
April 8, 2018
Good fun. She sounds like she would be a delight to sit next to at a dinner party.
Read
February 27, 2021Although I was expecting the book to be more about Andy Warhol (given the title and book cover) it was definitely more of a memoir about the author. Although the author did try to tie many of her life events and personal stories back to Warhol, it is important to note this really isn't a book about him but rather how her life happened to cross paths with him and was influenced by him in many ways. With that being said, Natasha's story is a fascinating one and I enjoyed reading about her life experiences which greatly differ from my own - and isn't that one of the best parts of reading a book like this?
For more about this book, visit: https://www.hastybooklist.com/home/af...
For more about this book, visit: https://www.hastybooklist.com/home/af...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews