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Although the letters have been selectively edited and chosen, they still offer insight to one of the 20th century's greatest American writers. So glad I bought this for my KF so that I can reference Steinbeck's own words about writing when reading his work. The book is also a good reference for writers, with great tips on writing.
Anyone who loves Steinbeck's work will love reading his own thoughts on his work and novels.
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If you are a fan of Steinbeck, you'll enjoy this look behind the scenes. Steinbeck's letters show him pretty realistically I think. He has flaws, he makes mistakes, and he's completely human.
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Every few days, I read a few of Steinbeck's letters. Right now they tell -- more than any biography ever could -- of a driven, thoughtful, observant, optimistic, arrogant, fascinating young man. Thankfully, the letters are mostly presented "as is," in chronological order but with editorial comments limited to those that provide necessary context.
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When you wanted to talk to someone you didn't text, email, you very rarely phoned, sometimes telegraphed, most of the time you wrote a letter. These letters are a peek inside the head of one of the greatest American writers ever. If you love Steinbeck, do yourself a treat and get this book.
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John Steinbeck never wrote an autobiography, but his letters probably reveal more about the writer and the man than an autobiography could have hoped to. We have the time in which he lived to thank for the Steinbeck letters. For the art of spontaneous letter writing was on the wane and these letters are a good reminder of that great loss. Phone calls and emails are not very good substitutes, for while they do suffice the moment they don't sustain over time. John Steinbeck was everyman, suffered every weakness, stood up to every task, doubted his own talent, feared every beginning and grew with every experience. In one of his early letters he admitted his shortcomings when he was cornered by academia. He hated the idea of proper spelling and punctuation for a clean manuscript in his first draft. He said, `I put my words down for a matter of memory. They are more made to be spoken than read. I have the instincts of a minstrel rather than those of a scrivener... when my sounds are in place, I can send them to a stenographer who knows his trade and he can slip the commas about until they sit comfortably and he can spell the words so that schoolteachers will not raise their eyebrow when they read them. There are millions of people who are good stenographers but there aren't so many thousand who can make as nice a sound as I can.' That letter should give heart to storytellers that are challenged in the ways of Steinbeck. Here's a scene written in 1936 that reoccurs throughout the book. He speaks of being scared to death, as usual, miserable, sick feeling of inadequacy as he begins a new work. But says he loves it once he gets down to work. He also has trepidations about dealing with death.Read more ›
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