Joan Didion, Unparalleled Prose Stylist, Dies at 87 – NBC10 Philadelphia

Joan Didion, the respected author and essayist, whose provocative social commentary and aloof, scientific voice have made her the only discerning critic of a period. tumultuous, passed away. She is 87 years old

Didion’s Penguin Random House announced the author’s death on Wednesday. The company said she died from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

“Didion is one of the country’s most prolific writers and keen observers. Her bestselling novels, commentary and memoirs have received numerous accolades and are considered modern classics,” Penguin Random House said in a statement.

Small and weak even as a teenager, with her big and sad eyes, she is a novelist, journalist, playwright and essayist.

She is known for her cold and ruthless dissection of culture and politics, from hippies to presidential campaigns to the kidnapping of Patty Hearst. Her essay collections “The White Album” became standard reading and “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” and “Play It As It Lays” became important anthologies of literary journalism.

“Five Magical Thoughts” is a grief classic that won the National Book Award.