DBD 07-02-2025: Joan

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Joan Didion (BA English UC Berkeley 1956) was a celebrated American writer, known for her contributions to "New Journalism". She gained prominence for her insightful essays and novels that explored American culture, particularly in her native California. Didion's sharp, introspective prose and incisive commentary on social unrest and psychological fragmentation earned her widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including the National Book Award for The Year of Magical Thinking. She died in 2021, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a vital voice in contemporary literature.