John Steinbeck (1902-1968)

I’d forgotten what a great writer John Steinbeck was until, that is, my eyes fell on an old First Edition gathering dust on one of my library shelves. Cannery Row - [1945 The Viking Press - New York $2.00. “This Edition Is Produced in Full Compliance with All War Production Board Conservation Orders.” (sic) ]

My copy, previously owned and inscribed by Harriet says: "Dear Rourks - For feeding the brute, and because I think you’ll find it very wonderful - ”. Cool. Everything about this edition is cool. The reference to WW2; the price; the inscription; the fact that it is in such good condition; and the story…oh my, the story. I know Steinbeck tells us that Cannery Row is, “of course” fictitious and fabricated, but I just can’t help but wonder……it is just too real not to be real.

Other than the body of work he left behind, I know very little of John Steinbeck. That is soon to change, my little chickens. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to know the life behind the words. Especially words that pierce and absorb a reader to the extent that that reader is suspended in flight and hurled into another world. 

 

 Looks like this year is going to be a good one for reading books I already own!