New Book Unveils Complex Bond Between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz

Lili Anolik's 'Didion & Babitz' explores the intertwined lives and contrasting legacies of two iconic Los Angeles writers.

Lili Anolik's book 'Didion & Babitz' delves into the intricate relationship between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, revealing new insights through a cache of unsent letters.
The book highlights the contrasting styles and lives of Didion, known for her precise, detached prose, and Babitz, celebrated for her vibrant, chaotic storytelling.
Anolik's work examines how Didion's influence helped launch Babitz's literary career, despite their differing views and eventual estrangement.
The book uncovers the personal and professional dynamics between the two, including Didion's role in editing Babitz's early work and their shared social circles in the 1960s and 70s.
Anolik's exploration sheds light on Didion's carefully crafted public persona and Babitz's unapologetic embrace of the Los Angeles cultural scene.