Joan Didion, a literary icon, has largely been perceived through curated images and selected works, obscuring her true self. Following her death in 2021, the opening of her archive at the New York Public Library and the forthcoming publication of her diaries, especially "Notes to John," promise to unveil her complexities. These materials aim to provide a raw and more humanized portrayal of Didion's experience, allowing readers to engage with her candid thoughts for the first time and possibly understand the world as Didion did herself.
The person beneath the published voice remains elusive. By design, the mortal Joan stayed hidden. Despite the directness of her prose, one can never quite work out what she's really trying to say.
The archive, belonging to Didion and her husband, was recently acquired by the New York Public Library and can now be accessed by appointment, as of March 29.
With the opening of her archive and the publication of her diaries, that may be about to change... it may be the first time we can hope to see Didion as she saw the world.
Didion's legacy includes 16 books and 336 boxes of archival materials. These boxes humanise the saviour who once walked on literary water.
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