Travels with Charley in Search of America John steinbeck Travels with Charley in Search of America

John Ernst Steinbeck Biography Born in Salinas, California, on February 27 Parents encouraged his love of writing Learned about ranch life as a teen during summers These experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land Graduated from Salinas High School in 1919 Attended Stanford University His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology) John Ernst Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902 , of German and Irish ancestry. His parents encouraged his love of writing! His father, John Steinbeck, Sr., was the County Treasurer and his mother, Olive (Hamilton) Steinbeck, was a former school teacher. Young Steinbeck learned about ranch life as a teen during summers. He did odd jobs on the ranches and paid close attention to his environment and the people around him. Later, these experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land. After graduating from Salinas High School in 1919, Steinbeck attended Stanford University. He was not too interested in completing a full educational program. His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology Steinbeck’s Boyhood Home

Biography, Continued Left Stanford in 1925 Moved to New York City His first novel, Cup of Gold, was published in 1929 The Pastures of Heaven and To a God Unknown followed Married his first wife, Carol Henning, in 1930 Lived in Pacific Grove, California (close to Monterey). Tortilla Flat (1935) received the California Commonwealth Club's Gold Medal for best novel by a California author. He left Stanford permanently in 1925 and moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming a writer. His first novel, Cup of Gold, was published in 1929, but was not well received. Next, were The Pastures of Heaven and To a God Unknown. Pastures of Heaven is a terrific book, but, again no one in the literary community seemed to care about it. Steinbeck married his first wife, Carol Henning, in 1930. She was really Steinbeck’s unofficial editor; after all, she was the only one who could read Steinbeck’s tiny scrawl (he hated typing). They lived in Pacific Grove (close to Monterey). Tortilla Flat (1935) marked the turning point in Steinbeck's literary career. It received the California Commonwealth Club's Gold Medal for best novel by a California author.

Biography, Continued The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize. War Correspondent during World War II Some of his war articles were published in Once There Was a War. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 A private person who did not seek publicity. Died December 20, 1968, in New York City Survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas.   Steinbeck continued writing, using a lot of research, personal experiences, and observations about people and their hopes, sorrows, and dreams. The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize. During World War II, Steinbeck was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. Some of his writing work there ended up in a collection called Once There Was a War. John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.” .Pretty much, Steinbeck was a private person who did not seek publicity. . He died December 20, 1968, in New York City and is survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas (and I have been there!).  

Travels with Charley in Search of America

Travels with Charley Steinbeck and his dog Charley Drove over 10,000 miles To discover what America was like To learn what Americans were like Left New York on September 23, 1960 Drove a specially made truck with a camper Named his truck “Rocinante” after the horse of Don Quixote Steinbeck and Charley

A Journey, Not a Trip Tried to avoid the major roads Usually camped in Rocinante Describes the land, the sound of the local language, and the people Wanted a “picture” of America Wanted to be anonymous Not a trip from one place to another; a journey of discovery Rocinante

Four Parts Part One: Preparing for the journey Part Two: New York, to Maine, then out to Chicago Part Three: From Chicago to the West Coast Part Four: Through the Southwest to the Deep South and finally home Inside Rocinante

Main Themes What is America? Who are Americans? A Journey, not a trip Consumerism Change, growing cities Environmental Destruction Change and growing older Race and racism Steinbeck and Charley