Editing Jonathan Meades (section)

==Writing==
===Journalism===
Following a period as a freelance copywriter,<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> Meades began writing for the literary magazine ''[[Books & Bookmen]]'' in 1971, setting him on a career as a journalist and critic.<ref name="The Independent 2002"/><ref name="Classique">{{cite web|url=https://www.classiquepromotions.co.uk/act/jonathan-meades|title=Jonathan Meades|publisher=Classique Promotions|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref> In 1973 he reviewed a [[V&A]] exhibition on [[Victorian architecture]] for the magazine, igniting a passion for the style and prompting him to explore even more of London than he had to date. Using the unlimited travel afforded by Red Rover bus passes, he rode on random buses for exactly 20 minutes and then got off, no matter where he was.<ref name="Quietus">{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/10502-jonathan-meades-interview|first=John|last=Doran|title=Sharp Suits And Sparkle: Jonathan Meades on Acid, Space And Place|website=The Quietus|date=29 October 2012|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref>

After leaving ''Books and Bookmen'' in 1975 he wrote for the sex education magazine ''Curious'' and joined the staff of ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'', then became ''[[The Observer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> TV critic in 1977.<ref name="Mark Lawson Interview"/><ref name="Classique"/> This led to the publication of his first book, ''This Is Their Life'', an A to Z of TV star biographies with an introduction by [[Mike Yarwood]].<ref>Meades, Jonathan (1979). ''This Is Their Life''. Salamander, London. {{ISBN|0-86101-045-0}}.</ref> He moved to ''[[Architects' Journal]]'' in 1979 and around this time worked on another book, ''The Illustrated Atlas of the World's Great Buildings'', with Philip Bagenal.<ref name="Classique"/><ref>Bagenal, Philip & Meades, Jonathan (1980). ''The Illustrated Atlas of the World's Great Buildings''. Salamander, London. {{ISBN|0-86101-059-0}}.</ref>

In 1981 he became the editor of [[Richard Branson]]'s short-lived listings magazine ''Event'', then from 1982 was the features editor of ''[[Tatler]]''.<ref name="Classique"/><ref name="The Guardian"/><ref name="The Independent 2002"/> It was here that he first had the opportunity to write about food, filling in as restaurant critic after [[Julian Barnes]] resigned, using the pseudonym "[[A Handful of Dust|John Beaver]]". He was also invited to contribute to the bi-monthly restaurant magazine ''À la Carte'' around this time.<ref name="talking of food"/> In 1986 he was offered the job of restaurant critic at ''[[The Times]]'', replacing comedy writer Stan Hey. Meades was a great success in this position, taking the job more seriously than his predecessor. He won Best Food Journalist at the 1986, 1990, 1996 and 1999 [[Glenfiddich Awards]].<ref name="talking of food"/><ref name="Int WWAW">Sleeman, Elizabeth, ed. (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=phhhHT64kIMC&dq=jonathan+meades+bordeaux+university&pg=PA379 ''International Who's Who of Authors and Writers 2004''], p. 379. Europa Publications, London. {{ISBN|1857431790}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winedine.co.uk/page.php?cid=242|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011114101301/http://www.winedine.co.uk/page.php?cid=242|archive-date=14 November 2001|title=Winners of the Glenfiddich Awards 1999|website=Wine & Dine|date=30 August 1999|access-date=15 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite his success, he often tired of the repetitive nature of the job and threatened to leave several times. The paper responded by increasing his salary.<ref name="talking of food"/> He finally quit around 2000, having been pronounced [[morbidly obese]] by his doctor: he had put on around five pounds per year, or one ounce per meal, during his tenure. He then managed to lose a third of his body weight over the course of the following twelve months, using a strict diet of protein and citrus.<ref name="Mark Lawson Interview"/> He remained with ''The Times'' as a columnist until 2005.<ref name="Who's Who"/>

In the years since, he has done less journalism but has contributed essays and reviews to numerous publications including the ''[[New Statesman]]'', ''[[The Independent]]'', ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The Spectator]]'', ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]]''.<ref name="Mark Lawson Interview"/><ref name="JM at The New Statesman">{{cite news|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/writers/314156|title=Jonathan Meades|work=New Statesman|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="JM at The Independent">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/author/jonathan-meades |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/author/jonathan-meades |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jonathan Meades|work=The Independent|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="JM at The Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jonathan-meades|title=Jonathan Meades|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="JM at The Spectator">{{cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/author/jonathan-meades/|title=Jonathan Meades|work=The Spectator|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="JM at The Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/jonathan-meades/|title=Jonathan Meades|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref name="JM at The TLS">{{cite news|url=https://www.the-tls.co.uk/?s=JONATHAN+MEADES|title=Jonathan Meades|work=The Times Literary Supplement|access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref>

===Books and other writing===
In 1982, ''[[Harpers & Queen]]'' published three short stories which Meades had written about "rural lowlife". These, along with four more, were collected in 1984 as ''Filthy English'', his first volume of fiction.<ref name="The Independent 2002"/> [[Andrew Billen]] of the ''[[London Evening Standard]]'' later described them as "bucolic horror stories".<ref name="Evening Standard 2002">{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/changing-times-for-jonathan-meades-6319084.html|first=Andrew|last=Billen|title=Changing times for Jonathan Meades|work=Evening Standard|location=London|date=30 January 2002|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> A few more stories appeared in his first anthology of journalism and essays, 1989's ''Peter Knows What Dick Likes'',<ref name="Books">{{cite web|url=http://www.jonathanmeades.co.uk/books.html|title=Books|website=Jonathan Meades official website| access-date=17 November 2017}}</ref> the title of which is a reference to the supposed superiority of male-on-male [[fellatio]].<ref name="Pedro"/>

He contributed to the screenplay of the 1992 French-Italian adventure film ''[[L'Atlantide (1992 film)|L'Atlantide]]'', directed by [[Bob Swaim]],<ref name="IMDb L'A">{{IMDb title|0118651|L'Atlantide}}</ref> and also wrote three unproduced screenplays in the 1980s and the 1990s: ''Millie's Problem'' (1985), ''The Side I Dressed On'' (1987) and ''The Brute's Price'' (1996).<ref name="Classique"/>

His first novel, ''Pompey'', was published in 1993. A dark, epic family saga centred around the titular city of [[Portsmouth]], it was widely praised and favourably compared to [[Laurence Sterne|Sterne]], [[Gerald Scarfe|Scarfe]], [[Ralph Steadman|Steadman]], [[Vladimir Nabokov|Nabokov]] and [[James Joyce|Joyce]], amongst other "great stylists".<ref name="Independent Pompey review 1993">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/book-review-pyrotechnics-of-loathing-pompey-jonathan-meades-cape-pounds-1499-1457309.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/book-review-pyrotechnics-of-loathing-pompey-jonathan-meades-cape-pounds-1499-1457309.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Elizabeth|last=Young|title=Pyrotechnics of loathing: Pompey – Jonathan Meades|work=The Independent|date=24 April 1993|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Independent Pompey review 2013">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/pompey-by-jonathan-meades-book-review-a-startlingly-filthy-read-that-shows-meades-on-top-form-8952758.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/pompey-by-jonathan-meades-book-review-a-startlingly-filthy-read-that-shows-meades-on-top-form-8952758.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Matthew|last=Adams|title=Pompey by Jonathan Meades: Book review – a startlingly filthy read that shows Meades on top form|work=The Independent|date=20 November 2013|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="New Statesman">{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2014/06/bugging-device-boy-form-jonathan-meades-early-year|first=Philip|last=Altermann|title=A bugging device in boy form: Jonathan Meades, the early years|work=New Statesman|date=12 June 2014|access-date=30 November 2015}}</ref> On its 2013 reissue, Matthew Adams wrote in ''The Independent'', "Where his first collection of stories, ''Filthy English'', achieved the distinction of covering in aggressively vivid prose the disciplines of murder, addiction, incest and bestial pornography, ''Pompey'' exhibits an even greater concentration of his aptitude for squalor ... by the end of the opening two pages, which must rank among the most startling affirmations of omniscience in 20th-century literature, the reader has met with an arresting injunction: 'After using this book please wash your hands.{{'"}}<ref name="Independent Pompey review 2013"/><ref name="Books"/>

A second novel, ''The Fowler Family Business'', followed in 2002. A tale of suburban sexual deceit in the funeral trade, it was described by the ''London Evening Standard'' as "hilarious and very black".<ref name="The Independent 2002"/><ref name="Evening Standard 2002"/> An anthology of his food journalism, ''Incest and Morris Dancing: A Gastronomic Revolution'', was published in the same year.<ref name="The Independent 2002"/><ref name="Books"/> In a 2010 interview with ''[[The Arts Desk]]'', he discussed his work on a third novel.<ref name="arts desk"/>

An anthology of journalism, essays and TV scripts on the built environment, ''Museum Without Walls'', was published by the [[Crowdfunding|crowdfunded]] imprint [[Unbound (publisher)|Unbound]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/museum-without-walls |title=Museum Without Walls |date=7 November 2013 |publisher=Unbound |isbn=9781783520190 |access-date=17 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Books"/>

Meades' memoir of his childhood in the 1950s and early 1960s, ''An Encyclopaedia of Myself'', was published in May 2014. It was long-listed for that year's [[Samuel Johnson Prize]] and won Best Memoir in the [[Spear's Book Awards]] 2014. [[Roger Lewis (biographer)|Roger Lewis]] of the ''[[Financial Times]]'' said of the work that "If this book is thought of less as a memoir than as a symphonic poem about post-war England and Englishness – well, then it is a masterpiece."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/230e3850-cf82-11e3-bec6-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/230e3850-cf82-11e3-bec6-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|first=Roger|last=Lewis|title='An Encyclopedia of Myself', by Jonathan Meades|work=Financial Times|date=16 May 2014|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Books"/><ref name="An interview with Jonathan Meades"/><ref name="New Statesman"/><ref name="Independent death">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/death-brutalism-and-pre-pubertal-sex-jonathan-meades-embraces-some-difficult-subjects-in-his-tv-9144497.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/death-brutalism-and-pre-pubertal-sex-jonathan-meades-embraces-some-difficult-subjects-in-his-tv-9144497.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=James|last=Kidd|title=Death, Brutalism and pre-pubertal sex: Jonathan Meades embraces some difficult subjects in his TV series and memoir|newspaper=The Independent|date=23 February 2014|access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, the publisher and record label Test Centre released a spoken word vinyl album by Meades entitled ''Pedigree Mongrel'', consisting of readings from ''Pompey'', ''Museum Without Walls'', ''An Encyclopaedia of Myself'' and unpublished fiction, combined with soundscapes created by Mordant Music. The sleeve of the album featured photography by Meades, including an abstract self-portrait on the front cover.<ref name ="Test Centre">{{cite web|url=https://testcentre.org.uk/product/pedigree-mongrel/|title=Pedigree Mongrel by Jonathan Meades|publisher=Test Centre |date=2015|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Quietus 2">{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/17394-jonathan-meades-announces-album|first=Christian|last=Eede|title=Jonathan Meades Announces Album|website=The Quietus|date=9 March 2015|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> Also in 2015, Meades, along with [[Laura Noble]], contributed essays to Robert Clayton's photographic collection ''Estate'', which documented life on the soon-to-be-demolished Lion Farm housing estate in [[Oldbury, West Midlands]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://stayfreepublishing.bigcartel.com/product/estate |title=Estate |publisher=Stay Free |editor-last=Clayton |editor-first=Robert |access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

A book of "borrowed" recipes, ''The Plagiarist in the Kitchen: A Lifetime's Culinary Thefts'', was published by Unbound in 2017.<ref name="unbound plagiarist">{{cite book|url=https://unbound.com/books/the-plagiarist-in-the-kitchen|title=The Plagiarist in the Kitchen|year=2017|publisher=Unbound|isbn=9781783523030|access-date=17 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="Books"/><ref name="The Spectator Plagiarist">{{cite news|url=https://life.spectator.co.uk/2017/04/jonathan-meades-has-written-a-cookbook-to-savour/|first=Henry|last=Jeffreys|title=Jonathan Meades has written a cookbook to savour|work=The Spectator|date=24 April 2017|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian 2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/19/jonathan-meades-food-architecture-plagiarist-in-the-kitchen-heart-surgery|first=Tim|last=Adams|title=Jonathan Meades: 'If I'd been in England, I'd be dead'|work=The Guardian|date=19 March 2017|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> According to Meades, it is "devoted to the idea that you shouldn't try and invent anything in the kitchen, just rely on what has already been done ... I hate the idea of experimental cookery, but I like the idea of experimental literature."<ref name="Quietus 3">{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/20064-jonathan-meades-interview-ape-forgets-medication-treyfs-and-artknacks|first=Tim|last=Burrows|title=Abstract Expressionism Without Making A Mess: Jonathan Meades First Exhibition|website=The Quietus|date=17 April 2016|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

''Isle of Rust'', a collaboration with the photographer [[Alex Boyd (photographer)|Alex Boyd]] featuring text based on Meades' script for his 2009 film about [[Lewis and Harris]], was published by Luath Press in 2019.<ref name="Home"/>

An anthology of uncollected writing from 1988 to 2020 entitled ''Pedro and Ricky Come Again'', described as "the best of three decades of Jonathan Meades" and the sequel to ''Peter Knows What Dick Likes'', was published by Unbound in March 2021.<ref name="Pedro">{{cite book |url=https://unbound.com/books/pedro-ricky-come-again/ |title=Pedro and Ricky Come Again |date=March 2021 |publisher=Unbound |isbn=9781783529506 |access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="Home"/>

[[#Bibliography|(See full bibliography)]]