The world of journalism and literature is mourning the loss of Rachel Cooke, a cherished journalist, literary critic, and food writer whose vibrant work graced the pages of the Observer for 24 years. She has died from ovarian cancer at the age of 56.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Cooke filled her weekly columns and reviews with a distinctive blend of curiosity, enthusiasm, and sharp discernment. Whether writing about books, food, or profiling people, her joy in the subject matter was palpable, making her a favourite among readers.
A Career Defined by Curiosity and Courage
Cooke's career was marked by a fearless approach to her work. Her first major interview, with chef Rick Stein, was memorable because she complained he gave her nothing to eat, an act that prompted Stein to phone her editor. She was equally direct in her profile of cricketer Kevin Pietersen, describing him as possessing "quite outstanding charmlessness".
Yet, her work was never merely critical. She took her duty to inform as seriously as her role to entertain. A piece on psychiatrist David Bell, concerning his critical report on the Tavistock clinic's gender identity service, was hailed as a model of clarity. Similarly, her encounter with politician Wes Streeting left readers with a powerful impression of his ambition.
A Passion for Literature and a Keen Eye
In the realm of literary criticism, Cooke applied the same powers of judgment and observation, underpinned by a deep erudition she shared without pretence. She held a particular passion for the poet Philip Larkin and for mid-century female novelists like Elizabeth Taylor and Muriel Spark, whom she called "the cleverest and weirdest".
Her prose was celebrated for its style and brilliant imagery. She described chapter breaks in a tiresome book as "conveniently placed benches" and had a winning way with aphorisms, such as her observation that "human beings may be divided, roughly speaking, into drains and radiators".
Beyond the sharp wit lay a deeply sentimental heart. At a talk at the London Library in February, she confessed she could not read the deathbed scene of Helen Burns in Jane Eyre without crying. This was her final public appearance before her cancer diagnosis.
From Sheffield to a Storied Career
Rachel Emma Cooke was born in Sheffield on 4 July 1969, the first child of botanist Roderic Cooke and biology teacher Elizabeth. Her early years included a period living in Jaffa, Israel, where she turned the family bomb shelter into "my office," never wavering from her ambition to become a journalist.
After studying English at Oxford University and editing the student newspaper Cherwell, she secured a place on a Sunday Times trainee scheme. She quickly established herself as a dedicated journalist who understood the profession could be enjoyable. Her career flourished when she joined the Observer's Review section in 2001, fulfilling a childhood dream of working at the paper where her hero, Katharine Whitehorn, had been a columnist.
In 2006, she married the critic and novelist Anthony Quinn, describing the subsequent years in Islington as "the best years of my life". That same year, she was named Interviewer of the Year at the British Press Awards.
Cooke was also a successful author. Her first book, Her Brilliant Career (2013), offered an alternative view of the 1950s through the lives of ten pioneering women. She later published Kitchen Person (2023), a collection of her food writing, and The Virago Book of Friendship (2024), an anthology that showcased her excellent curatorial eye.
A champion of feminist ideas, she was a steadfast colleague and friend to many. Even after becoming ill, she continued to work for as long as she was able, writing in June that she felt "quite private about the fact that I have cancer."
Rachel Cooke is survived by her husband, her mother, and her siblings. She remains a cherished companion and guide in the memories of her family, friends, editors, and countless readers.
