I have to admit that when I read that Didion’s diaries are being published I was eager to read them, assuming they wouldn’t have been published without some form of consent; but what you have written here about her opinion on Hemingway’s posthumously published work is really telling. Thank you for sharing. It’s so difficult to know how to feel about it- as you mentioned in your other post, I feel the same way about Plath’s diary but (maybe) naively thought authors’ wills for their work would be considered more these days. Hoping you hear back on your email <3
I was so excited when I first heard too! I really had hoped the publishers intentions were good but was also disappointed to discover this might not be the case. The good thing however is that Didion wrote so many things throughout her lifetime that we can still check out/ have access too. 💕💕 thank you for this comment.
1) this reminds me of a guy who had written an article essentially lambasting David Foster Wallace's wife for not publishing his suicide note, as the public had a right to drink more of what the writer had to offer, essentially (can you imagine being so self-centred and removed from humanity)
2) it makes me think of clarice lipspector's aguaviva, which was published post humorously, though she submitted it to her editor knowing that it would be published after she passed away. she demanded, in the most extreme terms, that her book was not to be edited and was to be published as is - she had, and I relate very, very intensely with this, deep qualms with her editors touching/changing her material, as she felt they misinterpreted her texts and would alter it to completely change the meaning. from what I remember, aguaviva was, to some degree, edited - though the editors tried to be as true as they could to her word (I may be remembering this wrong, but for the sake of the point, I'm going through with it) - if an author agrees to having a piece of work published posthumously, at what stage does editing have a moral right to step in and alter the text? DFW also had major issues with his editor - who he praised for his patience with him, as being edited is an incredibly painful and frustrating process - yet the pale king was published after his death. is this also immoral and against the authors wishes? should publications release a writers work as it is submitted after the authors death, without the collaborative effort that is editing, or just publish as is? would this be against the author's wishes? a book, or any written work, is not often completed without editing, and I wouldn't be surprised if lipspector used knowledge of her death to sway the editors away from touching anything she wrote as this very rarely happens
3) in regards to publishing the personal writing (diaries, letters, etc) of writers, I agree with you and Didion's perspectives, particularly in these instances (with Didion, Hemingway, Fitzgerald), but I also have to question if this is a result of the time. is it as immoral to publish the private writings of Didion, who has living relatives and people who would be affected by her letters/diaries, as it would be to publish the diaries of someone who passed away long ago? what about someone who is universally regarded as a Bad Person, would it be as immoral to publish the diaries of a Goebbels? What if, upon reading someone's diaries, it was revealed that a political figure, someone well regarded, had written their intention to push certain politics into action with ill intentions - would this be permissible to publish for public eyes?
In regards to publication for entertainments sake, in my opinion, particularly with those who have living relatives/friends, it is immoral. but for the other examples, I don't know - I have a hard time digesting the idea that many morality praxes is black and white and not contextual or circumstantial.
finally, I have to commend you on your writing and research. a beautiful voice and I applaud you for reaching out to Didion's editors, even if these sources are impossible to contact.
Hey there!! Thank you for all this new information I had no idea about regarding this topic!!
1. I never heard of David Foster Wallace’s wife publishing his suicide note… that’s actually awful. I’m gonna look for that article and give it a read.
2. I love Clarice Lispector !! Truthfully I believe that if somebody doesn’t want their work to be edited before it’s published especially an established writer such as Clarice and DFW it shouldn’t be. I think it’s equally frustrating in their case because both their prose doesn’t follow traditional modes of writing which is what makes both their books not only rewarding and immersive reads but also incredibly unique.
3. Didions family members still being alive makes this scenario worse especially if they didn’t give permission as well. I’m not sure who’s in charge of her estate tbh?? But this reminds me of Slyvia Plaths children actually working with editor Karen Kukil on the publication of their mother’s journals. That’s why I’ve never really felt that bad reading Plaths journals as I would Edna St Vincent Milay or Didion. But again, like you said there’s so many circumstances to be considered in these situations. I really wish Joan’s estate and publisher would give more context on who granted permission for her diary to be published etc… otherwise it just seems greedy and wrong to publish it.
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment this was so insightful and I’m excited to take a look into the DFW situation.
I agree 100% with what you laid out here, Marissa. I wouldn’t want anyone to publish my own diaries. 😳
Right!!! I can’t think of anything more embarrassing and invasive !
I have to admit that when I read that Didion’s diaries are being published I was eager to read them, assuming they wouldn’t have been published without some form of consent; but what you have written here about her opinion on Hemingway’s posthumously published work is really telling. Thank you for sharing. It’s so difficult to know how to feel about it- as you mentioned in your other post, I feel the same way about Plath’s diary but (maybe) naively thought authors’ wills for their work would be considered more these days. Hoping you hear back on your email <3
I was so excited when I first heard too! I really had hoped the publishers intentions were good but was also disappointed to discover this might not be the case. The good thing however is that Didion wrote so many things throughout her lifetime that we can still check out/ have access too. 💕💕 thank you for this comment.
I was thinking about this- the ethics of publishing her diaries- so glad you put it into words like this
Thank you!💕💕
this! a million times!
lovely writing, i fully agree with everything you’ve presented ♥️
Thank you!!💕
Thank you for your thoughtful and well researched article.
1) this reminds me of a guy who had written an article essentially lambasting David Foster Wallace's wife for not publishing his suicide note, as the public had a right to drink more of what the writer had to offer, essentially (can you imagine being so self-centred and removed from humanity)
2) it makes me think of clarice lipspector's aguaviva, which was published post humorously, though she submitted it to her editor knowing that it would be published after she passed away. she demanded, in the most extreme terms, that her book was not to be edited and was to be published as is - she had, and I relate very, very intensely with this, deep qualms with her editors touching/changing her material, as she felt they misinterpreted her texts and would alter it to completely change the meaning. from what I remember, aguaviva was, to some degree, edited - though the editors tried to be as true as they could to her word (I may be remembering this wrong, but for the sake of the point, I'm going through with it) - if an author agrees to having a piece of work published posthumously, at what stage does editing have a moral right to step in and alter the text? DFW also had major issues with his editor - who he praised for his patience with him, as being edited is an incredibly painful and frustrating process - yet the pale king was published after his death. is this also immoral and against the authors wishes? should publications release a writers work as it is submitted after the authors death, without the collaborative effort that is editing, or just publish as is? would this be against the author's wishes? a book, or any written work, is not often completed without editing, and I wouldn't be surprised if lipspector used knowledge of her death to sway the editors away from touching anything she wrote as this very rarely happens
3) in regards to publishing the personal writing (diaries, letters, etc) of writers, I agree with you and Didion's perspectives, particularly in these instances (with Didion, Hemingway, Fitzgerald), but I also have to question if this is a result of the time. is it as immoral to publish the private writings of Didion, who has living relatives and people who would be affected by her letters/diaries, as it would be to publish the diaries of someone who passed away long ago? what about someone who is universally regarded as a Bad Person, would it be as immoral to publish the diaries of a Goebbels? What if, upon reading someone's diaries, it was revealed that a political figure, someone well regarded, had written their intention to push certain politics into action with ill intentions - would this be permissible to publish for public eyes?
In regards to publication for entertainments sake, in my opinion, particularly with those who have living relatives/friends, it is immoral. but for the other examples, I don't know - I have a hard time digesting the idea that many morality praxes is black and white and not contextual or circumstantial.
finally, I have to commend you on your writing and research. a beautiful voice and I applaud you for reaching out to Didion's editors, even if these sources are impossible to contact.
Hey there!! Thank you for all this new information I had no idea about regarding this topic!!
1. I never heard of David Foster Wallace’s wife publishing his suicide note… that’s actually awful. I’m gonna look for that article and give it a read.
2. I love Clarice Lispector !! Truthfully I believe that if somebody doesn’t want their work to be edited before it’s published especially an established writer such as Clarice and DFW it shouldn’t be. I think it’s equally frustrating in their case because both their prose doesn’t follow traditional modes of writing which is what makes both their books not only rewarding and immersive reads but also incredibly unique.
3. Didions family members still being alive makes this scenario worse especially if they didn’t give permission as well. I’m not sure who’s in charge of her estate tbh?? But this reminds me of Slyvia Plaths children actually working with editor Karen Kukil on the publication of their mother’s journals. That’s why I’ve never really felt that bad reading Plaths journals as I would Edna St Vincent Milay or Didion. But again, like you said there’s so many circumstances to be considered in these situations. I really wish Joan’s estate and publisher would give more context on who granted permission for her diary to be published etc… otherwise it just seems greedy and wrong to publish it.
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment this was so insightful and I’m excited to take a look into the DFW situation.