Steinbeck John

1947 · ref. 150377 — New York: The Viking Press 1947. First edition of this work by the Nobel Prize-winning writer. Octavo original cloth. Boldly signed by John Steinbeck on the front free endpaper. From the library of John and Carol Steinbeck with their stamp to the front pastedown. Carol Henning Steinbeck John Steinbeck’s first wife was instrumental in his early literary development sustaining the couple financially and offering editorial input during the years when Steinbeck struggled to establish himself as a writer. Their marriage which lasted from 1930 to 1943 coincided with the creation of some of his most important early works including Tortilla Flat 1935 and The Grapes of Wrath 1939 yet ultimately dissolved under the pressures of fame and Steinbeck’s personal restlessness. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Hallock. An exceptional example most rare and desirable signed and from the writer's library. In his first novel to follow the publication of his enormous success The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck’s vision comes wonderfully to life in this imaginative and unsentimental chronicle of a bus traveling California’s back roads transporting the lost and the lonely the good and the greedy the stupid and the scheming the beautiful and the vicious away from their shattered dreams and possibly toward the promise of the future. It was the basis for the 1957 film starring Jayne Mansfield Joan Collins Dan Dailey and Rick Jason. The Viking Press hardcover