Condé Nast became the supreme chronicler of society from 1909 until 1942 through three major publications: Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House and Garden. As a publisher, his name came to represent sophistication, quality, and style, a reputation his company has maintained for nearly eight decades, but his life was one of quiet irony. He pioneered the concept of limited-circulation magazines targeted to an affluent audience but never began a new publication until three years before he died. His parties were legendary, yet he attended them as a detached observer, quietly watching from a corner. His magazines helped legitimatize avant-garde movements in art, photography, fashion, and literature, but Nast's taste remained conservative. His genius lay in the business side of publishing, and he turned editorial control over to an innovative, loyal triumvirate.

Condé Montrose Nast was born on 26 March 1873 in New York City, the son of William Frederick Nast...