Episode 24: Joan Didion in the 1970s, 1980s & 1990s

For over 50 years, Joan Didion, a daughter of California, has been in a league all her own, as a writer and novelist. Unlike many critics, she is capable of writing memorable fiction that, although not as widely read as her reportage and singular essays, stands the test of time. The Library of America Series recently published their second Joan Didion volume featuring the novels Democracy and The Last Thing He Wanted, as well as nonfiction works like Salvador, Miami and After Henry, her third major essay collection. Edited by former LA Times book editor, author, and critic David Ulin, the collection is brimming with her enduring legacy and highlights her works from the 1980s and 1990s, which are not as well known. In this episode, Ulin helps us unpack why Didion’s later work and overall influence cannot be underestimated among several younger generations of novelists and essayists.