Joan Didion's Former Apartment Is on the Market for $7.5 Million
The legendary writer lived in the unit while working on The Year of Magical Thinking.
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Calling all Joan Didion fans: After her remarkably popular estate sale in 2022, the late writer's former Manhattan apartment has officially gone on the market for $7.5 million. Though Didion and her late husband John Gregory Dunne spent time on the west coast, they always called New York City home. In fact, this space served as the backdrop for Didion penning The Year of Magical Thinking, Didion's transformative tome that chronicled the aftermath of her husband's passing in 2003. According to Serena Boardman of Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage, who is listing the unit, there have not been owners since.
If the literary significance alone isn't impressive enough, the unit itself is a gorgeous depiction of classic New York real estate. Located in 30 East 71st Street—a limestone-clad residence building that dates back to 1928—Joan Didion's former home is conveniently positioned on the Upper East Side, a few blocks away from Central Park. The apartment unit itself boasts 11 designated rooms, views of St. James' Church nearby, and charming original architectural details from 1928. In addition to gorgeous features, the building boasts a handful of upscale amenities such as a newly-renovated lobby and top-of-the-line fitness center.
If $7.5 million feels a tad outside of your budget, fear not: Scroll down for an intimate tour of Didion's beloved New York home. As the writer herself put it in the famous essay "Goodbye to All That," "New York was no mere city. It was instead an infinitely romantic notion, the mysterious nexus of all love and money and power, the shining and perishable dream itself."
Gallery
Once you get up to the unit through its semi-private elevator, you’ll be confronted by a spacious gallery that acts as the epicenter of the apartment. Herringbone wood floors and clean molding provide an elevated blank slate, while the two generous coat closets provide ample storage.
Living Room
With beautiful painted built-ins and a wood-burning fireplace, the living room conjures up a cozy, bookish mood.
Library
Across the room is what the listing refers to as a library, with a few steps up and a built in bench for perching. Technically it's a blank slate—you'd need to add your own shelving.
Kitchen
The space is decked out with stainless steel appliances, wooden accents, and warm hexagonal tiles below.
Dining Room
While the blue built-ins are front and center in this space, the traditional molding and beams provide an elegant edge.
Office
This carpeted room proudly features an assortment of built-in shelves as well as an L-shaped desk. Who knows? Maybe some of Didion’s creativity and penchant for words might rub off on you in here.
Bedroom
In addition to this suite with ample built-in storage, the unit also features three additional bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a single partial bathroom.
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