Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters

Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters

182 pages
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Published: 20 Dec 1969
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Editions
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Details

This edition

ISBN: 9780140144185

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication date: 1 December 1990

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Description

Each working day from January 29 to November 1, 1951, John Steinbeck warmed up to the work of writing East of Eden and a letter to the late Pascal Covici, his friend and editor of the Viking Press. It was his way, he said, of "getting my mental arm in shape to pitch a good game."

Steinbeck's letters were written on the left-handed pages of a notebook in which the facing pages would be filled with the text of East of Eden. They touched on many subjects - story arguements, trial flights of workmanship, concern for his sons.

Part autobiography, part writer's workshop, these letters offer an illuminating perspective on Steinbeck's creative process, and a fascinating glimpse of Steinbeck, the private man.