How A Woman – Brigid Hughes, Second Editor Of ‘The Paris Review’ – Was Nearly Erased From History

This is quite the unpleasant literary lineage story. According to a former board member of The Paris Review, “As soon as Hughes was named to succeed Plimpton, receiving her Times profile, there were ‘powerful movers and shakers in the literary world, and they exerted influence continuously until they got their way.’ Those voices, the former board member said, were led by the late Bob Silvers, who wanted an ‘NYRB or New Yorker type guy.’ Hughes was in the midst of publishing her first full issue around the time that Silvers-led faction started maneuvering to limit her tenure to a year. Eventually, they pulled enough board members over to their side.”