Twelve early pieces never before collected that offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of Joan Didion.
Mostly drawn from the earliest part of her astonishing five-decade career, the wide-ranging pieces in this collection include Didion writing about a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, a visit to San Simeon, and a reunion of WWII veterans in Las Vegas, and about topics ranging from Nancy Reagan to Robert Mapplethorpe to Martha Stewart.
Here are subjects Didion has long written about - the press, politics, California robber baronsac, women, the act of writing, and her own self-doubt. Each piece is classic Didion: incisive and, in new light, stunningly prescient.
Didion's collection of essays provides a compelling insight into her mind, revealing her thoughts on a variety of topics from compulsive gambling to the performing arts. Her literary prowess shines through in each piece, making this book a must-read for fans of her work.
For fans of Annie Ernaux (Simple Passion - WINNER OF THE 2022 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE), Patti Smith (Year of the Monkey), Deborah Levy (Real Estate), Elif Batuman (The Possessed), and Sylvia Plath (The Journals of Sylvia Plath).
