VANITY FAIR

Volume 53 Number 2

February 1990

Features

The Man Who Changed the World: Gail Sheehy tracks down Mikhail Gorbachev, from his harrowing childhood in Privolnoye to the heart of the Kremlin—and his bond with the controversial Raisa. 108

Barkin's Bite: Hollywood's sultriest blonde mouths off to James Wolcott about growing up in Queens, motherhood, and acting sexy. Photographs by Herb Ritts 126

Hollywood Banzai: Showtown is still reeling from the corporate battle royal that climaxed in Sony's $3.4 billion Columbia buyout. Peter J. Boyer reports from the executive suites. 132

Chen Up: Ben Brantley spotlights Joan Chen. 140

The Strapless Violinist: The well-orchestrated career of virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter plays on glamour, Karajan's blessing, and very sharp management. By Barbara Jepson. 142

Hip Hopper: Helmut Newton spotlights Dennis Hopper. 146

Spy Society: In her latest memoir, Aline, Countess of Romanones, enlists the Duchess of Windsor to unmask a Soviet mole at a Rothschild costume gala 148

Shades of Bleckner: Ross Bleckner, the Godfather of New York's downtown art scene, is moving into the limelight. By Anthony Haden-Guest. 156

Kyra Royale: Christa D'Souza spotlights Kyra Sedgwick 162

Columns

Editor's Letter: The history man. 8

Mixed Media: James Wolcott on rediscovering boho belletrist Dawn Powell. 42

New Society: Michael Shnayerson on New York's richest—pledging money and time 52

Books: Leslie Bennetts on Erica Jong's new novel and twenty years' sexploits. 64

Postscript: Christopher Hitchens on David Blundy, maverick frontline journalist. 80

Wine: Joel L. Fleishman on the best Bordeaux. 166

Cars: Mark Ginsburg, Ann Beattie, and the Audi V8 Quattro. 168

Et Cetera

Letters: Readers bite back. 24

Fanfair: The bright stuff. 85

Vanities: Recipe for success. 201

Credits: page 199