Rachel DeLoache Williams

The Sunday Salon with Alice-Azania Jarvis

My guest this week is Rachel DeLoache Williams, whose recently-released book My Friend Anna: the True Story of the Fake Heiress of New York City, offers a riveting account of her friendship with Anna Sorokin. Anna, also known as the “Soho grifter,” was originally from Russia but posed as a German heiress who wanted to open a private club and spent months living in $400-a-night hotel rooms. While doing so, she befriended Rachel, who loaned her thousands of dollars.

Anna was not found criminally guilty in her actions towards Rachel - but was convicted earlier this year of defrauding banks and hotels of up to $250,000, and of trying to lie her way into securing a $22 million loan. She was sentenced to between four and twelve years in prison.

Her trial, at with Rachel testified, captivated the world’s press - and not just because of the outrageous nature of Anna’s crimes. She became known for her high-fashion court attire too.

The book makes for gripping reading, and I found our interview, which took place in the office of her publisher Quercus, utterly fascinating.

Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-Anna-Story-Heiress/dp/1982114096
Twitter: @aliceazania @racheldeloache
Instagram: @aliceazania @rdwilliams
Edited by Chelsey Moore