Joan Didion was a prominent American writer and journalist, recognized as a pioneer of New Journalism. Her work is characterized by its distinct voice and introspective style, often exploring themes of personal and societal fragmentation, cultural anxiety, and the loss of innocence in America. Didion's essays and novels delve into her own experiences and observations, providing sharp commentary on the complexities of contemporary life and the human condition.
December 5, 1934: Joan Didion's Birth
On December 5, 1934, Joan Didion, the acclaimed American writer and journalist, was born. She later became a pioneer of New Journalism.
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1943: Return to Sacramento
In 1943, Joan Didion's family returned to Sacramento, marking a significant period in her early life due to her father's involvement in defense contracts.
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1956: Vogue Job
In 1956, Joan Didion began working at Vogue magazine as a research assistant after winning the "Prix de Paris" essay contest, marking the start of her career in journalism.
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1956: Graduation from UC Berkeley
In 1956, Joan Didion graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and won first place in the "Prix de Paris" essay contest sponsored by Vogue.
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1957: Relationship with Noel E. Parmentel, Jr.
In 1957, Joan Didion began a relationship with Noel E. Parmentel, Jr., lasting until 1962, who was a political pundit in the New York literary scene. During their relationship, Didion wanted to have a child, but Parmentel declined due to his past marital failures.
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January 1960: "Berkeley's Giant: The University of California" Article
In January 1960, "Mademoiselle" published Joan Didion's article "Berkeley’s Giant: The University of California", showcasing her early writing talent.
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1962: End of Relationship with Noel E. Parmentel, Jr.
In 1962, Joan Didion's relationship with Noel E. Parmentel, Jr. ended. During their time together, Didion desired to have a child, but Parmentel was against the idea.
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1963: Publication of Run, River
In 1963, Joan Didion wrote her first novel, "Run, River", about a Sacramento family coming apart, with help from John Gregory Dunne who edited the book.
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January 1964: Marriage to John Gregory Dunne
In January 1964, Joan Didion married John Gregory Dunne, after being introduced by Noel E. Parmentel, Jr. Didion and Dunne remained married until Dunne's death in 2003.
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1964: Move to Los Angeles
In 1964, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne moved to Los Angeles, initially intending to stay temporarily, but California became their home for the next 20 years.
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1964: Marriage to John Gregory Dunne
In 1964, Joan Didion married John Gregory Dunne, who was writing for Time magazine at the time, beginning a significant personal and professional partnership.
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1966: Adoption of Daughter Quintana Roo Dunne
In 1966, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne adopted a daughter named Quintana Roo Dunne, adding a new dimension to their family life.
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1966: Adoption of Quintana Roo Dunne
In 1966, while living in Los Angeles, Joan Didion and John Dunne adopted a daughter, Quintana Roo Dunne.
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1968: Publication of Let Me Tell You What I Mean
In 1968, Joan Didion began publishing the essays that would be compiled in "Let Me Tell You What I Mean" in 2021
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1968: Publication of Slouching Towards Bethlehem
In 1968, Joan Didion published her first nonfiction book, "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," a collection of magazine pieces about her experiences in California and an example of New Journalism.
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1968: Vertigo and Nausea Diagnosis
In the summer of 1968, Joan Didion experienced an episode that led to a psychiatric evaluation and a diagnosis of vertigo and nausea, as documented in her title essay, "The White Album".
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1970: Publication of Play It as It Lays
In 1970, Joan Didion's novel "Play It as It Lays," set in Hollywood, was published, further establishing her as a prominent literary figure.
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1971: Move to Malibu
In 1971, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne moved to Malibu after residing in Los Feliz since 1963.
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1971: The Panic in Needle Park Screenplay
In 1971, Joan Didion co-wrote the screenplay for "The Panic in Needle Park" with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, marking one of their early collaborations in film.
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1972: Film Adaptation of Play It as It Lays
In 1972, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne co-wrote a film adaptation of her novel "Play It as It Lays" starring Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld, further showcasing their collaborative success.
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1972: Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
In 1972, after periods of partial blindness, Joan Didion was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, though she remained in remission throughout her life.
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1976: A Star is Born Film
In 1976, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne co-wrote the screenplay for the film "A Star is Born,", solidifying their reputation as successful screenwriters.
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1976: A Star Is Born Screenplay
In 1976, Joan Didion co-wrote the screenplay for "A Star Is Born" with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, adding to their list of collaborative screenwriting projects.
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1976: "Why I Write" Article
In 1976, Joan Didion remarked in her New York Times article "Why I Write" on the essential nature of the sentence structure and its ability to alter the meaning of a written work.
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1977: Publication of A Book of Common Prayer
In 1977, Joan Didion's novel, "A Book of Common Prayer", was published, adding to her repertoire of significant literary works.
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1979: Death of Henry Robbins
In 1979, Henry Robbins, who was Joan Didion's friend and editor, passed away, leading Didion to later publish a personal memorial in his honor in her 1992 collection, "After Henry".
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1979: Publication of The White Album
In 1979, Joan Didion published "The White Album", another collection of her magazine pieces from various publications.
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1980: "Joan Didion: Only Disconnect" Essay
In 1980, Barbara Grizzuti Harrison criticized Didion's writing style in her essay, "Joan Didion: Only Disconnect,", calling her "neurasthenic Cher" and her style "a bag of tricks."
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1983: Publication of Salvador
In 1983, Joan Didion's book-length essay "Salvador" was published after a two-week trip to El Salvador with her husband, documenting their observations and experiences.
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1987: Publication of Miami
In 1987, Joan Didion published her nonfiction book "Miami," which examined the different communities in that city, adding to her collection of insightful cultural analyses.
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1988: Move to New York City
In 1988, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne moved from California to New York City, marking a significant change in their environment and lifestyle.
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1989: Gap Campaign
In 1989, Joan Didion was featured in a campaign for the clothing company Gap, marking one of her early ventures into the world of fashion and advertising.
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1991: New York Review of Books Piece on Central Park Five
In 1991, Joan Didion dissected serious flaws in the prosecution's case in the trials of the Central Park Five, making her the earliest mainstream writer to view the guilty verdicts as miscarriages of justice.
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1991: Central Park Five Article
In 1991, Joan Didion wrote the earliest mainstream media article to suggest that the Central Park Five had been wrongfully convicted, showcasing her sharp social commentary.
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1992: Publication of After Henry
In 1992, Joan Didion published "After Henry", a collection of twelve geographical essays and a personal memorial for her friend and editor Henry Robbins.
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1996: Up Close & Personal Film
In 1996, Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne adapted the biography of journalist Jessica Savitch into the film "Up Close & Personal", starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.
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1996: Up Close & Personal Screenplay
In 1996, Joan Didion co-wrote the screenplay for "Up Close & Personal" with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, continuing their successful partnership in Hollywood.
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1996: Publication of The Last Thing He Wanted
In 1996, Joan Didion published "The Last Thing He Wanted", a romantic thriller that added a new dimension to her literary repertoire.
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1996: Parmentel Interview
In 1996, Noel E. Parmentel, Jr. broke his silence about Joan Didion and was interviewed for an article in New York magazine, after being upset by his portrayal in Didion's novel A Book of Common Prayer.
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2000: Publication of Let Me Tell You What I Mean
In 2000, Joan Didion ended publishing the essays that would be compiled in "Let Me Tell You What I Mean" in 2021
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2003: Family Crisis
In 2003, Joan Didion's daughter, Quintana Roo Dunne, developed pneumonia leading to septic shock, and while she was comatose, Didion's husband, John Gregory Dunne, suddenly died of a heart attack, creating a period of immense personal crisis.
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2003: Death of John Gregory Dunne
In 2003, John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion's husband, passed away from a heart attack. They had been married since January 1964.
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2003: "Where I Was From" Memoir
In her 2003 memoir, "Where I Was From", Joan Didion reflected on how her family's frequent moves during her childhood made her feel like a perpetual outsider.
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October 4, 2004: Beginning The Year of Magical Thinking
On October 4, 2004, Joan Didion began writing "The Year of Magical Thinking", a narrative of her response to the death of her husband and the severe illness of her daughter.
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2004: Quintana Roo Dunne's head injury
In 2004, while visiting Los Angeles after her father's funeral, Quintana Roo Dunne fell at the airport and required brain surgery for hematoma, causing further emotional distress for Joan Didion.
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August 26, 2005: Death of Quintana Roo Dunne
On August 26, 2005, Quintana Roo Dunne, Joan Didion's daughter, died of acute pancreatitis at the age of 39, during Didion's New York promotion for "The Year of Magical Thinking", compounding Didion's grief.
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2005: Living on East 71st Street
In 2005, Joan Didion was living in an apartment on East 71st Street in Manhattan, marking a period of personal change and reflection.
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2005: National Book Award for Nonfiction
In 2005, Joan Didion won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for "The Year of Magical Thinking," a memoir about grief following her husband's death.
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2006: Publication of We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live
In 2006, Everyman's Library published "We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live", a compendium of Joan Didion's writing, including the full content of her first seven published nonfiction books.
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2007: "The Year of Magical Thinking" on Broadway
In 2007, Joan Didion adapted her memoir "The Year of Magical Thinking" into a play that premiered on Broadway, showcasing her versatility as a writer.
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2007: Broadway Adaptation of The Year of Magical Thinking
In 2007, Joan Didion began working with English playwright and director David Hare on a one-woman stage adaptation of "The Year of Magical Thinking" which premiered on Broadway.
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2011: Smoking Habit
As late as 2011, Joan Didion maintained a habit of smoking five cigarettes per day.
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2011: Publication of Blue Nights
In 2011, Joan Didion wrote about the Quintana's death in the book, "Blue Nights".
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2011: Publication of Blue Nights
In 2011, Joan Didion's "Blue Nights", a memoir about aging and her relationship with her late daughter, was published, delving into anxieties about raising a child and the aging process.
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2011: Didion's Reaction to Harrison's Criticism
In 2011, New York magazine reported that Joan Didion still felt irritated by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's 1980 criticism, indicating the lasting impact of the negative review.
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2012: As it Happens Screenplay
In 2012, Joan Didion and Todd Field co-wrote a screenplay for a political thriller titled "As It Happens," though the project never came to fruition due to lack of studio support.
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2013: National Humanities Medal
In 2013, Joan Didion was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama, recognizing her significant contributions to American literature and culture.
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2015: Céline Campaign
In 2015, a photograph of Joan Didion shot by Juergen Teller was used as part of the spring-summer campaign of the luxury French fashion brand Céline, highlighting her enduring cultural relevance.
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2017: "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold" Documentary
In 2017, Joan Didion's nephew, Griffin Dunne, directed a Netflix documentary about her titled "Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold", offering insights into her writing and personal life, including the deaths of her husband and daughter.
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2017: "The Center Will Not Hold" Documentary
In 2017, the Netflix documentary "The Center Will Not Hold," directed by her nephew Griffin Dunne, profiled Joan Didion's life and career, offering insights into her works and personal experiences.
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December 23, 2021: Joan Didion's Death
On December 23, 2021, Joan Didion, the influential American writer and journalist, passed away, marking the end of a significant era in literature and journalism.
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2021: Publication of Let Me Tell You What I Mean
In 2021, Joan Didion published "Let Me Tell You What I Mean", a collection of 12 essays she wrote between 1968 and 2000, offering further insights into her thoughts and perspectives.
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2022: Joan Didion: What She Means Exhibition
In 2022, the Hammer Museum at UCLA organized an exhibition titled "Joan Didion: What She Means," curated by Hilton Als. The exhibition pays homage to Didion through the work of modern and contemporary artists.
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2023: "Joan Didion: What She Means" travels to Miami
In 2023, the exhibition "Joan Didion: What She Means" is scheduled to travel to the Pérez Art Museum in Miami. The exhibition showcases modern and contemporary artists who pay homage to Didion.
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