Want to buy Joan Didion’s sunglasses? That’ll be $27,000. Her broken clock? $35,000

Auction of the late writer's estate sees prices soar thousands of dollars over estimates - but it is all going to a good cause

An estate sale for the late Joan Didion has seen buyers flock to snap up the writer's belongings, with everything from napkins to chunky Celine sunglasses to a broken desk clock selling for thousands above the estimated prices.

On Wednesday, the live auction at Stair Galleries in New York, titled An American Icon: Property From the Collection of Joan Didion, saw the late American writer's furniture, art and books snapped up for hair-raising prices.