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James M. Dourgarian, Bookman
1595-B Third Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
(925)935-5033
Established1980 - Member ABAA
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James M.Dourgarian, Bookman, was established in 1980. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA). Like all ABAA members, we answer to a higher authority and follow a higher standard of ethics that guarantees a successful transaction for all our customers.
We buy and sell old books, vintage books, collectible books, rare books, first edition books, and related ephemera. We maintain several specialties. Among them are American fiction first editions from c.1900 to the present. Within that general field, we have heavy emphasis in John Steinbeck and Steinbeckiana. Thus, we buy and sell Steinbeck primary first editions in dust jackets, signed/limited editions, his appearances in anthologies, his periodical appearances, books and periodicals about Steinbeck, film and theatre memorabilia, bibliographies, and miscellaneous items.
We also specialize in these same categories for these authors -- Jack London, Wallace Stegner, and Stephen King. Other specialties include Western Americana, books on California and the West, books on Japan, China, and the Orient, and Armed Services Editions. The latter are vintage paperbacks issued to American GIs from 1943 to 1947. They are comprised of mysteries, Westerns, science fiction and fantasy, mainstream fiction, historical novels, science, poetry, adventure stories, and more.
Within our field of modern first editions, we also sell related film memorabilia Thus, we sell film posters, lobby card sets, pressbooks, stills, scripts, etc. for films made from the works of authors we carry such as John Steinbeck, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Raymond Chandler, Zane Grey, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Stephen King, Edward Abbey, Anne Rice, and many others.
Browse Books Listed by Author's Name Browse Armed Services Editions Books Listed by Issue Numbers | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John IV. In Touch. NY, Delta, 1971, first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. Author's First Book in which he recalls his time in Vietnam and his subsequent adventures (or misadventures) back home, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Very good plus. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Siegel, Larry. Mad Clobbers The Classics. NY, Warner Books, Sept. 1981, first British edition, wrappers. Softcover. Includes The Wrath of Grapes by John Steinfull, also fractures classics by Melville, Hemingway, Shakespeare, etc., illustrated, distributed in the UK by Suron International Publications, nearly identical to its American counterpart, but it doesn't have the American price, its ISBN number, and the edges are not stained (the American edition edges are stained yellow). Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Maleska, Eugene and Buranelli, Albert. 50 American Authors. NY, Giant Cardinal, Aug. 1963, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. No. GC 181, a paperback original, this is Vol. 1 of the Educational Crossword Puzzle Series, there are 50 author puzzles, 50 biographies, and 50 self-testing quizzes, John Steinbeck puzzle, biography, and quiz appears p. 181-184, Goldstone & Payne G57, not recorded by Morrow, other authors include Poe, Twain, Cather, London, Lewis, O'Neill, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Hemingway, Wolfe, Saroyan, etc., a very scarce book, especially when the puzzles are not filled in. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benchley, Nathaniel. The Monument. NY, McGraw-Hill, 1966, first edition, dust jacket. Hardcover. A satiric novel by the son of humorist Robert Benchley, the dedication page reads, "FOR/J. E. Steinbeck/for precisely one hundred and three reasons," not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. Pen Portraits. NY, At Random, Spring 1992, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. This photo essay anticipates a then-forthcoming Random House photography book, authors shown include Jack Kerouac, Samuel Beckett, William Faulkner, and others, such as John Steinbeck who is shown on page 38 in a 1947 photo taken by Robert Capa, his collaborater in A Russian Journal, Capa's own image taking the photo is reflected within the Steinbeck photo. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Gotham Book Mart. We Moderns. NY, Gotham Book Mart, 1940, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. This is Gotham Book Mart's Catalogue 42, issued on its 20th anniversary, it includes contributions by Gertrude Stein, Samuel Putnam, William Carlos Williams, etc. as well as listings that include John Steinbeck first editions at 1940 prices, introduction to the Steinbeck listings by Joseph Henry Jackson, other authors offered include T. S. Eliot, John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, etc., not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Very good plus. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Silverman, Aaron. The John Steinbeck Map of America. Los Angeles, Aaron Blake Publishers, 1986, first edition. A c.26X20-inch color map, folded, as issued, and housed within a folded cardstock cover the front of which features a The Grapes of Wrath-inspired illustration while the rear cover carries text about this map specifically and other maps issued in the series, the map itself carries segments over a map of the USA which represent much of Steinbeck's work, one of 5000 copies, together with a printed postcard prospectus for the map, a TLS and an ALS from Silverman about the project. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Mitchell, John. The John Steinbeck Puzzle. Pasadena, Mitchell Books, February 1982, first edition. Six photo-copies sheets stapled together in which Mitchell, a seller of rare books, presents "across" and "down" questions for a crossword puzzle, no answers are given. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Miller, Merle. Viva Zapata!. NY, Argosy, February 1952, first edition, wrappers. Softcover. Pages 51-82, profusely illustrated with b&w photos from the 20th Century-Fox film that starred Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata, it also starred Jean Peters and Anthony Quinn, it alsol includes a note from Jerry Mason, the magaziine's editor, on how thhis novelette by Miller, based on John Steinbeck's screenplay, came to pass, Goldstone & Payne G25, not recorded by Morrow. Very good. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Miller, Merle. Viva Zapata!. n.p. (NY), Argosy, February 1952, first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover. This souvenir reprint is a 32-page bound off-print from the February 1952 issue of "Argosy" in which the magazine attempts to create a novelette in words and pictures, written by Merle Miller based on Steinbeck's screenplay, profusely illustrated with photos from the film which starred Marlon Brando as Zapata, supported by Jean Peters and Anthony Quinn, this was the first in a planned series of this new art form, Goldstone & Payne G26, not recorded by Morrow. Water stained, else very good. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). The Associates of the Stanford University Libraries invite your membership. Stanford, Stanford University, n.d. (c.1983), first edition. A single sheet folded to make four pages, this brochure inviting membership has as its cover design a page from John Steinbeck's holographic manuscript from the complete archive of his Cannerfy Row. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Poster. Washington, D. C., U. S. Postal Service, 1979, first edition. A 36X48-inch color poster that announces the John Steinbeck commemorative stamp, the first in the Postal Service's Literary Arts series, the poster is dominated by a likeness of Steinbeck rendered by David Stone Martin, it also shows in large detail the Steinbeck stamp itself, it also lists many of Steinbeck's books and notes that he won both the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the Nobel Prize for Literature, see Morrow 699. Folded, fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photographs. n.p. (NY), Robert Benchley, n.d. (c.1942), first edition. This is a group of 18 b&w photographs, 8X10 inches, all printed from the original nitrate negatives, all were taken at a private party, probably in New York, by Robert Benchley, they show John Steinbeck, Nathaniel Benchley, Gwyn Steinbeck, and others in a variety of candid shots and staged poses, there are three photos of Steinbeck taken, oestensible, while he wrote, but an upside down examination of his text shows the words "Fuck You" repeated over and over again, his eyes also show playful mischief, he is shown a total of six times, many of the party goers, including Gwen, are shown wearing funny hats, the original negatives and contact sheets were sold by this bookseller to the John Steinbeck Library in 1994, these prints were then produced by the library as part of the sale, laid in loosely is a typed letter signed from May Jean S. Gamble, then the Steinbeck Librarian, about having purchased the negatives and then producing these prints. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photo Postcard. San Jose, n.p., Nov. 26, 1933, first edition. This is a photo postcard that depicts the aftermath of a lynching that took place in California, the photo shows two men who had just been lynched in St. James Park in San Jose in November 1933, the two men, identified as "Holmes" and "Thurmond," had been arrested for the kidnap/murder of the young heir to the Hart Department Store in San Jose, they were eventually busted out of jail in San Jose by a mob that numbered 15,000 and lynched, kidnapper (Jack) Holmes is shown on the right hanging from the tree after being lynched while nude, (Thomas) Thurmond is shown on the left hanging from the tree while nude from the waist down, this lynching was the basis for John Steinbeck's short story, The Lonesome Vigilante, which shows that a group of men behaves differently than a man alone which was one of Steinbeck's favorite literary themes early in his career, his short story is remarkably similar to the true events of that fateful night in San Jose, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne, not recorded by Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photo Postcard. San Jose, n.p., Nov. 26, 1933, first edition. This is a photo card that depicts the aftermath of a lynching that took place in California, the photo shows the hanging corpse of Thomas Thurmond who had just been lynched in St. James Park in San Jose in November 1933, Thurmond and Jack Holmes had been arrested for the kidnap/murder of the young heir to the Hart Department Store in San Jose, they were eventually busted out of jail in San Jose by a mob that numbered 15,000 and lynched, Thurmond is shown hanging from the tree while nude from the waist down, this lynching was the basis for John Steinbeck's short story, The Lonesome Vigilante, which shows that a group of men behaves differently than a man alone which was one of Steinbeck's favorite literary themes early in his career, his short story is remarkably similar to the true events of that fateful night in San Jose, together with a photo postcard that shows a group of men, women, and children surrounding what was called Kidnapper Tree "T" the day after the event, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne, not recorded by Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photo Postcard. San Jose, n.p., Nov. 26, 1933, first edition. This is a photo card that depicts the aftermath of a lynching that took place in California, the photo shows the hanging corpse of Jack Holmes who had just been lynched in St. James Park in San Jose in November 1933, Holmes and Thomas Thurmond had been arrested for the kidnap/murder of the young heir to the Hart Department Store in San Jose, they were eventually busted out of jail in San Jose by a mob that numbered 15,000 and lynched, Holmes is shown hanging from the tree while nude, this lynching was the basis for John Steinbeck's short story, The Lonesome Vigilante, which shows that a group of men behaves differently than a man alone which was one of Steinbeck's favorite literary themes early in his career, his short story is remarkably similar to the true events of that fateful night in San Jose, together with a photo postcard that shows a group of men, women, and children surrounding what was called Kidnapper Tree "H" the day after the event, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne, not recorded by Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Official Photographs of Lynching of San Jose Kidnapers. n.p. (San Jose?), n.p., 1933, first edition. This photocard packet features a series of fold-out photographs related to the 1933 lynching of two men in San Jose's St. James Park to avenge the kidnapping and muder of the young heir to the Hart Department Store, Jack Holmes and Thomas Thurmond had been arrested for the crime, but they were eventually busted out of the San Jose jail by a mob of 15,000 which then lynched them, the packet shows individual photos of Holmes and Thurmond taken at the jail in San Jose shortly before the event, there are also two photos of the mob breaking the men out of the jail, plus two more of the men after they had been lynched, Holmes is nude and shown from the rear, Thurmond is nude from the waist down and shown from the front, the photo series is housed within the packet which was designed to be mailed, it carries a quote from the then Governor of California James Rolph on his lax attitude about the event, this lynching was the basis of John Steinbeck's short story, The Lonesome Vigilante, which shows that group man operates differently than individual man which was one of Steinbeck's favorite literary themes in his early writing career, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). John Steinbeck. Washington, D. C., United States Postal Service, February 27, 1979, first edition. This is a First Day of Issue cachet featuring the John Steinbeck stamp, the first in the U. S. Postal Service's Literary Arts series, the Steinbeck stamp was the first in this series, the envelope carries the 15-cent Steinbeck stamp and carries both the First Day of Issue mark and the Feb. 27, 1979 postmark from Salinas, CA, Steinbeck's birthplace, it also features an illustration of Steinbeck with text about how his novels mirrored America's struggle and victory over the Great Depression years, this copy is also Signed by fellow Nobel laureate Saul Bellow, Bellow and Steinbeck shared Pascal Covici as their editor. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). John Steinbeck. Washington, D. C., United States Postal Service, February 27, 1979, first edition. This is a First Day of Issue cachet featuring the John Steinbeck stamp, the first in the U. S. Postal Service's Literary Arts series, the Steinbeck stamp was the first in this series, the envelope carries a block of four 15-cent Steinbeck stamps and carries both the First Day of Issue mark and the Feb. 27, 1979 postmark from Salinas, CA, Steinbeck's birthplace, it also features an illustration of Steinbeck. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Poster. Seattle, Western Printing Company, n.d. (1943), first edition. This c.18X24-inch poster advertises that "John Steinbeck writes about the little man in the war" in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer during World War II, the top of the poster is dominated by his name and a likeness of Steinbeck, the bottom half advertises his writing "Now in the P. I," not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Age-toned along edges, else clean, bright, and fine, now housed in a black steel and glass frame. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photograph. n.p. (NY), United Press International, October 25, 1962, first edition. A c.6X9-inch b&w photo of author John Steinbeck and his wife Elaine in New York after it was announced that he won the Nobel Prize for Literature, text that accompanies the photo is taped to the verso of the photo citing UPI photo credit. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photograph. Stockholm, United Press International, December 10, 1962, first edition. A c.8X6-inch b&w photo of Steinbeck receiving his Nobel Prize for Literature from Sweden's King Gustav Adolf in Stockholm's Concert Hall, text about the event is taped to the verso of the photo which gives a UPI Radio Telephoto credit, the text indicates that Steinbeck's prize consisted of a check for $50,043, a diploma, and a gold medal, it also notes that Steinbeck was accompanied by his wife, Elaine. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Photograph. NY, United Press International, January 6, 1963, first edition. This is a wonderful photograph of two literary giants, John Steinbeck and Carl Sandburg, on the occasion of Sandburg's 85th birthday, the party was at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, although the two men were great friends, Steinbeck looks as if he's about to bite off the head of Sandburg who looks as serene as always, c.8.5X6.5 inches, UPI text about the photo is affixed to the verso which also carries the UPI photo credit. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Sheffield, Carlton A. I Never Met An Anapest I Didn't Like. n.p. (Campbell), n.p. (CRS Publishing), n.d. (1985), first edition, wrappers. Softcover. This is an advance copy/state of what was eventually published in a slick, perfect-bound format, it is a book of verse written by Sheffield, a life-long friend and former college roommate of author John Steinbeck, its content has several differences from the published version in addition to this being unbound folded sheets. Very good. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). John Steinbeck. Washington, D. C., United States Postal Service, February 27, 1979, first edition. This is a First Day of Issue cachet featuring the John Steinbeck stamp, the first in the U. S. Postal Service's Literary Arts series, the Steinbeck stamp was the first in this series, the envelope carries the 15-cent Steinbeck stamp and carries both the First Day of Issue mark and the Feb. 27, 1979 postmark from Salinas, CA, Steinbeck's birthplace (and on what would have been his 77th birthday), it also features an illustration of Steinbeck with text from his Nobel Prize speech and text about how Viking Penguin had published his works for more than 40 years, this copy was sent gratis to members of the Steinbeck Society by Viking Penguin, it includes their mass mailing cover letter in the original mailing envelope. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Cannery Row - Life and Death of An Industry. Felton, Kenneth E. Clouse, 1977, first edition. A filmstrip, not recorded by Morrow. Unopened in its original shipment box. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). John Steinbeck: Antaeus East of Eden. Logan, Perfection Form Company, n.d. (973), first edition. This is a 135-frame, 19-minute filmstrip with an accompanying booklet and cassette tape, designed for us in schools, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. Unused in its original shipment box. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Pearl. Larchmont, Media Basics, 1980, first edition. This includes three cassette tapes and three filmstrips (derived from the original film version of The Pearl), plus a study guide booklett, all packed within an imitation leather box with clasp, not recorded by Morrow. New, unused. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] (Steinbeck, John). Of Mice and Men The Pearl. Peoria, Thomas S. Klise Co., 1978, first edition. Includes two one-hour cassette tapes on each of these two Steinbeck novels with a pamphlet guide, each was designed for scholarly enrichment, not recorded by Morrow, includes the publisher's catalogue laid loosely into its housing box. Publisher's catalogue is folded, pamphlet guide is aged, cassettes are unused. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Snake and Johnny Bear. NY, Caedmon, 1984, first edition. Caedmon CDLS 1750, a stereo recording of Steinbeck himself reading two of his most famous short stories, originally recorded as part of the Columbia Literary Series of 1953, the cassette tape also features an illustration of Steinbeck by Kenneth Smith. As new, unplayed, in its original shrink-wrap. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Red Pony. NY, Caedmon, n.d. (c.1970), first edition. Caedmon CDL 52047, two cassette tapes in which Eli Wallach freads an abridgment of the novel, the abridgment, which mostly omits The Great Mountains story, is by Marianne Mantell, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. As new, unplayed, in original shrink-wrap. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. NY, Caedmon, 1978, first edition. A cassette that features selections from Steinbeck's masterpiece as read by Henry Fonda, it was Fonda who portrayed Tom Joad in the 1940 film version of The Grapes of Wrath, he reads from Chapters 1, 3, 17, and 18. As new, unplayed, in original shrink-wrap. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. Lifeboat. Minneapolis, Metacom Audio Publishing Group, 1984, first edition. An audio cassette tape, being a one-hour tape produced originally as part of the Screen Directors Playhouse series on radio in 1944, Alfred Hitchcock is the featured director in this presentation, Tallulah Bankhead reprises her role in the film appearing as Connie Porter, Jeff Chandler and Sheldon Leonard are also featured in this re-creation. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Schiffman, Joseph. John Steinbeck: In Search of America. Guilford, Jeffrey Norton, 1969, first edition. An audio cassette tape featuring a lecture by this professor emeritus at Dickson College in Carlisle, PA, originally recorded by one of his students in 1969, 26 minutes, discusses Steinbeckšs life, art, thought, and relevance, part of a series by Schiffman called Six American Authors, not recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. As new, unplayed. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, Elaine and Wallsten, Robert. Steinbeck: A Life In Letters. Guilford, Jeffrey Norton, 1975, first edition. An audio cassette produced from an interview with these two editors of Steinbeck: A Life In Letters, a huge book of John Steinbeck letters, the interview was conducted by Heywood Hale Broun as part of his First Edition radio program in 1975, 55 minutes, not recorded by Morrow. As new, unplayed. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. Logan, Perfection Form Company, n.d. (c.1974), first edition. A theatrical adaptation of Steinbeck's masterpiece by the Nostalgia Broadcasting Corp. of Iowa, designed to be used with an included "readeo," a printed radio read-along script, neither the cassette tape nor the printed "readeo" script are recorded by Goldstone & Payne or Morrow. As new, unused. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Guilford, Jeffrey Norton Publishers, 1989, first edition. Issued as part of the publisher's Audio-Forum series, this is a 60-minute cassette recording of the Theatre Guild's production of this play which originally aired May 8, 1949 and which starred Burgess Meredith. As new, unplayed. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Baumgarten, David. Songs and Stories of Steinbeck's Cannery Row. Leucadia, Bowsprit Concert Association, 1986, first edition. A 60-minute cassette tape of songs composed and adapted by Baumgarten, liner notes by Bruce Ariss, also includes a reproduction as Ariss's Cannery Row poster as its cover, also includes a brief history of John Steinbeck's association with Ed Ricketts, songs include Cannery Row, The Chinaman, Lee Chong, Dora Flood, Doc Ricketts, Whalers, Down on Cannery Row, Mr. & Mrs. Malloy, Tortilla Flat, and Doc's Beer Milkshake. As new, unplayed. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. n.p., 20th Century-Fox, 1943, first edition thus. A VSH video cassette of this 1943 film that starred Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Henry Travers, and Lee J. Cobb, copied from a 16 mm version of the film, see Goldstone & Payne E11, not recorded by Morrow. Fine. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Benchley, Nathaniel. Autographed Letter Signed. Albi, Nathaniel Benchley, n.d. (c.1966), first edition. A lengthy autographed letter signed from Nathaniel Benchley (son of humorist Robert Benchley) to John Steinbeck IV (son of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck), the two had been close family friends as they grew up together in New York, Benchley writes from France where he had been working 11 to 14 hours a day as a waiter in a French town's "dingiest hotel," sending this six-page letter (three sheets, written on rectos and versos) to Steinbeck IV in Vietnam, Benchley begins, "Dear Catbird," which was Steinbeck's family nickname, saying he had just obtained Steinbeck's address from Elaine, the elder Steinbeck's wife, Benchley clearly fears for Steinbeck's life, "...you're crazy, but I agree with the feeling that you can't sit on your ass in an office all the time. I'm probably about as scared for you as you are for yourself (I don't imagine I have the real gut-ripping fear that you can feel, but I do fear for you)," Benchley insists on seeing Steinbeck in either California or New York just as soon as he gets back in the U. S., Benchley indicates that despite his "fat, tyrranical, little boss" that he would rather be there than in Saigon, he plans to visit Barcelona, Rome and Paris in the fall if his money will permit, after which he would attend the University of Nantes, he also writes how his name, Nathaniel, isn't French enough for the town where he works, "I am now called Robert (you know, Row-Bear in French) by everyone, and if anyone asked for Nathaniel Benchley, no one would know what he meant," he goes on to say the locals think of him as "some kind of athletic god because I am bigger than most people in town and because I like to play rugby," Benchley ends, "And now, Catbird, if you've made it this far without skipping too many passages, you're a much better man than I. I started out just to report a few things from this end of the world and wound up gabbing all afternoon. Teddibly sorry. So, old man, take great care of yourself and win a pulitzer prize just for kix," he adds in a P.S.S., "I hope you know how much your visit to New York in May cheered your father and Elaine. They are still elated over it, and your father is a new man. So there. N," Steinbeck IV went on to write In Touch, Benchley had his own writing career and is the father of Peter Benchley of Jaws fame. Folded for mailing in its original envelope with its stamp torn off. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, Thom. Typed Letter Signed. n.p. (NY), Thom Steinbeck, August 1, 1966, first edition. 47 lines, about a page and one-quarter, from the eldest son of novelist John Steinbeck to his younger brother John, known as John Steinbeck IV and also referred to as Catbird, a childhood nickname, he writes, "The weather (at Sag Harbor, the elder Steinbeck's home) was cool and cloudy but the house is a snug thing for drinking away grey hours. Your father looked in fine shape and we had some good talks together. Your last visit with them affected Elaine (the elder Steinbeck's third wife) very deeply. The only way I can describe it is to say she is less fraught than I can ever remember. You know: all the nervous, sometimes aggressive, energy we talked about. She seemed mellowed, loving, happy even. John's noticed the change, too," he goes on to praise the letters John IV had sent to the elder Steinbeck, calling them "strong and honest, and I envy you your being able to write him like that. I'm still evasive with il padre mio (that father of mine, an affectionate expression of exasperation)," Thom had apparently been working on an adaptation of East of Eden, he writes, "E of E is done, by the way. I wish you could look at it. We plan to go into rehersal in December and open in February. Should have our director set any day now. I'm hoping for Jerry Robbins. We'll play the score for John early next week and then he can read it," adding, "I'll be nervous as hell when I give it to him. If I ever do another adaptation, it will be of the work of someone I don't know personally. Should John not like the treatment, do I shoot myself? Or him?," East of Eden was adapted into a Broadway musical that premiered in 1968, but it ran just one performance, later he writes about E. (Edward) Albee, "He's bought some 900-room chateau-palace-castle arrangement that overlooks the sea. Thirty bedrooms and two johns. I think they're called White Elephants. Everyone's so damned rich these days. Hell, you earned more than I did last year and I'm almost a year older than you. It's not fair," he goes to to some "boy/brother talk, to wit, "I had a dream about Jane Fonda last night you wouldn't believe," Thom talks about singers and records, too, "I have lots od Dionne Warwick and Supremes records now. That was a good deed you did me. Saw the Supremes about three weeks ago. They said they were going to Viet Nam (where his brother had been deployed). I'd better warn you: they have pink hair (wigs maybe?) and funny dresses, dance and say things 'We would now like to retiterate Barbra Streisand' before breaking into People. But they sing, baby," he ends by asking John to write, not necessarily how it is over there (Viet Nam), but how he is, the letter is signed, "Ter-le-beau". Cheap paper is aged and folded, sans envelope. | |
| [Steinbeckiana] Steinbeck, Gwyndolyn Conger. Autographed Letter (Unsigned). n.p. (NY), Gwyndolyn Conger Steinbeck, June 23, 1949, first edition. This is a letter (together with a small archive of others materials) to Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck from his second wife, Gwyn, mother of his two children (Thom and John IV), the archive presents a glimpse into their private lifes, she reports that their eldest son, Thom, had come down with a bad cold and high temperature, her doctor advised her to watch for measles, then "John came to with the heaves and strangles," apparently a reference to the same bad cold, she refers to their Dr. Craig who advised that the boys "should be out of it soon" and that both were eating well, she then talks about an amusing incident with Thom related to her singing career, "Tom was terribly worried when I sang with Fred. He pointed to the radio & asked how I was going to get out of it & come home to him. I had to promise he could sleep in my bed that night so he'd know I got home alright," she makes another reference to her singing career, "My records are really making the rounds now & I hope something will come of it," she also notes having seen Carl Sandburg, a Steinbeck friend and fellow writer, at which point the letter, which is unsigned, suddenly comes to an end, the verso shows a drawing of what appears to be a man and another of what appears to be a horse, it is unknown whether they were drawn by Thom or John IV, together with a typed letter signed by their doctor, John D. Craig, certifying that John IV is free of measles contagion and can return to school, together with an autographed letter signed by her son, John, about how little time is left in school before he returns home, adding, "I must go now and sit in ecstacy and dream about vacation," together with another autographed letter signed from her son John on his Eaglebrook School (Deerfield, MA) stationery, "If being at school is having a good time at all I are having it" and adds that he finds the math there very easy and that he likes the Latin, both these letters from the young Steinbeck are undated, together with a typed letter signed from John dated July 27, 1952, again to his mother, asking, "Would you send me my knife, and some more T shirts? When are you coming?," he reports that he is having fun (he was at Camp Maranacook in Readfield, ME) and was learning how to swim and steer a motor boat, adding, "We have a blueberry bush in back of our cabin. We pick some," later he ends, "I have poison ivy but it all went away. Love, John (signed)," together with a mimeographed newsletter dated Nov. 4, 1953 to the families of students at the Malcolm Gordon School, NY, which notes "In the midst of tea on Saturday afternoon, Thom Steinbeck's mother arrived with delicious pastries for Thom to pass at our Halloween party," together with a reproduced program for "The Mikado" from the Allen-Stevenson School which lists John IV as Peep-Bo, and their friend Nathaniel Benchley (son of humorist Robert Benchley) as being part of the chorus, brother Thom is listed as the scenery designer and producer, and lists Gwendolyn, as she was known then, as one of two assistants. Very good. | |
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