Jane Raphaely, matriarch, tough businesswoman and doyenne of the SA women's magazine market, has self-published her autobiography, and her fans will not be disappointed.

In Jane Raphaely Unedited (Associated Media) they'll find a kiss-and-tell record of her fascinating life. Agreat deal of it has appeared in her own magazines down the 47 years since she accepted Nasionale Pers's invitation to launch Fairlady. She was at the helm of this magazine while raising her four children, two of whom have followed her into the industry.

Much less was known about her early years. She was conceived by her then unmarried parents on a rubbish dump in Stockport, near Manchester, known for its cotton industry. The influence of a bigamous, drunken, often out-of-work father was offset by a mother who clearly had the same wit, grit and grey matter that Raphaely, born Mullins, used to get into the London School of Economics.

She met Michael Raphaely during her studies, and after turning down New York (TV) fame and what was then a $24000 fortune, married the SA businessman.

Raphaely turned Fairlady into a publishing sensation, using intuition fused with an innate business ability. Since then she's created her own magazine empire and rubbed shoulders with local and international presidents, film and rock stars, and fashion and beauty glitterati.

She's used her considerable editorial clout to fight for women's rights. While still in her twenties, she raised her voice against the rape of women in prison cells by police.

This fascinating book captures an amazing life.