[Seven Great Reads From the Vanity Fair Archive](
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[Vanity Fair's Cocktail Hour](
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September 20, 2020
[Sweet Bard of Youth](
[After a wildly prolific decade of screenwriting and directing that made him the king of teen comedy, John Hughes receded from the cinematic landscape, his legend preserved by the classic â80s trilogy of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Buellerâs Day Off. Following Hughesâs sudden death, at age 59, David Kamp delved into his intense connections and sudden breaks with his Brat Pack actors, as well as the essential anomaly of his brief Hollywood reign.](
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[He Comes First](
[Until November 8, 2016, Melania Trumpâs marriage provided her with a golden Fifth Avenue fortress, at a priceâputting up with her husbandâs humiliations and boorishness. From Melaniaâs ill-fated campaign appearances to her apparent reluctance to embrace the role of first lady, Evgenia Peretz explored how a very private woman was coping with intense public scrutiny of her marriage.](
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[The Modigliani Code](
[A century after the premature death of Amedeo Modigliani, his allure continues to grow, with the price of his work soaring into Picasso territory. The only question is: How many Modiglianis are fakes? In 2017, as experts vied for authority and museums tested their collections, Milton Esterow delved into the artistâs turbulent legacy.](
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[Love and Majesty](
[It was, in 1947, that rarest of unions: a royal love match. But though the dashing Prince Philip of Greece and the 21-year-old heiress to Britainâs throne were clearly besotted as they began a life and family together, trouble lay ahead as âLilibetâ became âHer Majestyâ and the new Duke of Edinburgh chafed at his consort role. In an adaptation from her biography, Sally Bedell Smith described the dynastic struggle that rocked Queen Elizabeth IIâs marriage and the difficult choices she was forced to make.](
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[Dangerous Talents](
[When James Deanâs Porsche Spyder crashed 65 years ago, killing the actor just before the premiere of Rebel Without a Cause, his legend was sealed. But the director who gave Dean that immortal role, Nicholas Ray, has been virtually forgotten. Examining Rayâs genius, his loves (including Natalie Wood and, perhaps, Sal Mineo), and the addictions that ruined him, Sam Kashner recaptured the dramas behind Rebel Without a Cause, as well as the bond shattered by Deanâs death.](
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[Magnificent Obsession](
[With its 2,000 acres, 187 rooms, and Masterpiece Theatre lifestyle, Blenheim Palace eclipses even the British monarchyâs homes in the eyes of many. And for the three centuries since Queen Anne bestowed the land on the first Duke of Marlborough, his heirs have battled to keep it going. In a rare interview with the then 85-year-old 11th duke, known as Sunny, and his fourth wife, the âexoticâ and wealthy Lily, James Reginato explored the sacrifices made in Blenheimâs nameâfrom loveless marriages to a bitter legal battleâwhile Jonathan Becker shot exclusive photos of the palace and its private quarters.](
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[Becoming a Legend](
[For more than half a century, the look of Condé Nast magazines, including Vanity Fair, was in the hands of Alexander Liberman. In an excerpt from their biography of the legendary editorial director, Dodie Kazanjian and Calvin Tomkins described Libermanâs early years in New York, working alongside Condé Nast himself and the redoubtable Frank Crowninshield.](
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