Didion and Babitz

“But you know so many men,” said Ophelia, “isn’t there even one for you?” “They’re all adjectives,” said [Sophie], “they all make me feel modified;

(In 1965, Norman Mailer, watching her at a party, observed, “She’s a perfect advertisement for herself.”)

book and I’m trying to get it published. So, I show it to people, and they say, “Gee, this is a fabulous book! Let’s hop into bed. I can get it published for you.” And that wouldn’t be so bad either only everyone is so old and ugly and untalented. It always winds up with me running out of an apartment, clutching my manuscript to my over-developed c

April 14, 1964 Dear Joseph Heller: A very terrible thing happened to me. I was born a girl. It would be O.K. if I were ugly or something or even startlingly unattractive, but as luck would have it, I’m gorgeous, occasionally. Here’s the thing. I wrote this fabulous