Joan Didion and Eve Babitz are two of the most iconic writers to come out of 1970s Hollywood. Both chronicled the excesses of the era, yet their approaches to writing—and to life—could not have been more different. In Didion & Babitz, Lili Anolik explores the complex, often fraught relationship between these two literary giants, shedding light on their ambivalent friendship, rivalries, and contrasting sensibilities.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the essence of their relationship, comparing their distinct voices and personalities. Through Anolik’s book, we’ll also discuss how Didion and Babitz were shaped by their environment—Hollywood—and how their individual choices led to a rivalry that, while never fully public, was quietly intense.
Joan Didion and Eve Babitz: Two Sides of 1970s Hollywood
Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, despite sharing similar backgrounds, were polar opposites when it came to their writing styles and public personas. While Didion was known for her precise, controlled prose that dissected the chaos of the 1960s and ’70s, Babitz embraced the chaos, allowing her prose to flow freely, with the same wild energy that defined her life.
Both women navigated the world of 1970s Hollywood but in very different ways. Didion, who was small in stature and quiet in nature, was considered the intellectual of the pair, known for her cool and detached style. On the other hand, Babitz was the quintessential Californian socialite—gorgeous, adventurous, and brimming with life.
Yet, despite these differences, both women became legends in their own right, representing two different facets of the same glittering, chaotic era.
The Friendship That Wasn’t: Didion & Babitz’s Complicated Bond
While the two writers were friendly at times, their relationship was far from straightforward. Anolik’s Didion & Babitz explores how their friendship was both deeply personal and professionally fraught. They met in the late 1960s, when Babitz was a budding socialite and Didion was still an up-and-coming writer. Babitz, with her alluring charm and wild energy, found herself invited into Didion’s inner circle of intellectuals, creatives, and misfits.
However, as Anolik reveals, their relationship was anything but smooth sailing. While Didion helped Babitz get her first story published in Rolling Stone and later assisted her in securing a book deal, their dynamic started to sour. The key event that marked the beginning of their estrangement was Babitz’s rejection of Didion’s harsh editorial revisions. Babitz, who valued her own free-flowing style, felt that Didion’s meticulous approach to writing stifled her creativity.
The animosity between them was subtle yet significant, with Babitz reportedly telling people, “I fired Joan.” This declaration, while dramatic, highlights the deep fissures between the two writers, whose conflicting personalities made it impossible for them to remain close friends for long.
Two Writers, Two Styles: Didion’s Precision vs. Babitz’s Flourish
One of the most fascinating aspects of Didion & Babitz is the contrast between the two writers’ styles. Didion, ever the perfectionist, was known for her precise, razor-sharp prose. Her collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem opens with one of the most iconic lines of the 20th century: “The center was not holding.” This line, concise and measured, perfectly encapsulates the disintegration of the 1960s counterculture, which Didion captured with a cool detachment that made her one of the most celebrated essayists of her generation.
In contrast, Babitz’s writing was loose, expansive, and filled with a kind of exuberant energy that matched her larger-than-life personality. Her debut, Eve’s Hollywood, is a far cry from Didion’s restrained approach. The book opens with an eight-page dedication, in which Babitz references everything from tempura to Marcel Proust. Her style was a celebration of excess—both in her writing and her life.
Babitz’s work was as much about self-exposure as it was about Los Angeles itself. She didn’t hide her flaws or eccentricities, instead wearing them proudly, while Didion remained much more guarded and composed, both in her life and on the page.
The Hollywood Influence: Fame, Glitter, and Contradictions
Both Didion and Babitz were deeply influenced by Hollywood, but they had very different relationships with it. Didion, who was born in California but always felt somewhat apart from the scene, viewed Hollywood with a mix of fascination and disdain. Her most famous works are filled with the contradictions of the city—glittering on the surface but hollow underneath.
Babitz, on the other hand, embraced Hollywood fully. She was a part of the scene, attending parties, meeting stars, and dating musicians and actors. Babitz’s image was as much about her social life as it was about her writing. She reveled in the glamour and chaos of Los Angeles, even as she critiqued it through her writing. Her love for the city was inseparable from her love for life itself.
The Impact of Their Rivalry: How Didion and Babitz Shaped Each Other
While Didion and Babitz’s relationship may have soured, their rivalry shaped both women’s careers. Didion’s careful, methodical approach to writing became an inspiration for many who saw her as a model of intellectual rigor. Babitz’s larger-than-life persona, on the other hand, appealed to those who admired the freedom of an unapologetically messy life.
In Didion & Babitz, Anolik suggests that their rivalry was more than just personal—it was about the larger struggle of women in the literary world. Both writers were aware of the challenges they faced as women trying to make a name for themselves in a male-dominated industry. However, Didion approached this challenge with poise and detachment, while Babitz confronted it head-on with a brash, fearless attitude.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacies of Didion and Babitz
Despite the friction in their relationship, both Joan Didion and Eve Babitz have left indelible marks on the literary world. Didion’s sharp insights into American society and her unparalleled narrative voice made her a towering figure in modern literature. Babitz, though less widely known, remains an icon for those who appreciate her unique blend of glamour, self-awareness, and biting social commentary.
Didion & Babitz is not just a book about rivalry—it’s a celebration of two very different kinds of genius. Anolik’s book serves as both a deep dive into their friendship and a poignant examination of their legacies, showing how their personalities, writing styles, and relationships with Hollywood will continue to influence readers for years to come.
