Cosmo Landesman

Cosmo Landesman
Born	St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Occupation(s)	Journalist, editor
Years active	1991–present
Known for	Co-founder of Modern Review magazine

Cosmo Landesman (born September 1954) is an American-born journalist and editor based in the United Kingdom. He co-established the magazine Modern Review in 1991 alongside his then-wife Julie Burchill and colleague Toby Young, who served as editor during its publication until 1995.

Early life

Landesman is the eldest son of publisher and writer Jay Landesman and poet and lyricist Fran Landesman, originally from St. Louis and New York respectively. Born in St. Louis, he relocated with his family to London in 1964 along with his brother, Miles Davis Landesman. While his sibling adopted a bohemian lifestyle, Cosmo was more academically inclined and left school at age 16 to pursue performance art.

In 2008, after many years working as a journalist, Landesman released his memoir Starstruck, which centers on his upbringing with theatrical parents described as unconventional American egotists who challenged British social norms. The book also explores his nuanced relationship with his parents, who endorsed the publication.

The Modern Review

Together with then-wife Julie Burchill and writer-editor Toby Young, Landesman launched The Modern Review in 1991, intending to present popular culture topics to an intellectual readership. The magazine ceased publication in 1995 following a decline in sales and interpersonal tensions, including Burchill's affair with intern Charlotte Raven. Subsequently, Landesman relocated to New York City. His work appeared in Vanity Fair’s Cool Britannia issue (March 1997), and he also wrote a dating column for The Sunday Times.

Article in The Spectator

In April 2022, Landesman published a piece in The Spectator defending the right to "stare at women," which provoked criticism from the British Transport Police and public figures such as MP Dawn Butler, who labeled it "creepy and misogynistic." The article was written in response to a campaign poster warning against "intrusive staring."

Personal life

As a young man, Landesman became a member of the Groucho Club and married Julie Burchill. Their son Jack tragically died by suicide in June 2015 after enduring long-term depression. In 2024, Landesman revealed that he was living in "genteel poverty" due to imprudent spending of an inheritance combined with poor financial management.

Books

• Landesman, Cosmo. Starstruck: fame, failure, my family and me. London: Macmillan, 2008.

Articles

• Landesman, Cosmo. "Having it both ways: it's a stupid lie to say that we're all attracted to both men and women." The Spectator, vol. 324, no. 9671, 4 January 2014, p. 18.

Critical studies and reviews of Landesman's work

Starstruck

• Greig, Geordie. "Unruly children as parents." The Spectator, 4 October 2008.