Michael Gross Responds to Book Review Revelation

Last week a NY Observer article alleged that The New York Review of Books editor Robert Silvers shared a galley copy of Michael Gross‘ Rogues’ Gallery: The Secret Story of the Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals that Made The Metropolitan Museum of Art with one of the book’s subjects.

Examining the May 2009 hardcover release of nonfiction book, the article explained: “[Silvers] asked Random House for five galley copies, supposedly for reviewing purposes. Mr. Silvers also wished to secure at least one for the Met’s vice chairman, Annette de la Renta, so she could read the 110-page chapter (‘Arrivistes’) about her and her mother, Jane Engelhard, whom Mr. Gross considers one of the most fascinating women of the 20th century and great American characters of all time.”

Soon after, Gross (pictured, via Lindsay McCrum) received legal letter from de la Renta’s lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore calling the article “gratuitous and false character assassination.” We caught up with Gross to find out his response to the Observer article.

In an email, Gross responded: “I was shocked that someone who requested an embargoed book for review would show it to a subject of the book, no matter what their relationship is. Asking her about what’s in it is one thing, showing her closely-guarded galleys is another. It may not be strictly unethical, but it’s certainly unprofessional and unseemly, particularly for someone who puts himself forward as an advocate for authors who try to write honestly about the powerful.”

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