An intimate journey across and in search of America, as told by one of its most beloved writers, in a deluxe centennial edition In September 1960, John Steinbeck embarked on a journey across America. He felt that he might have lost touch with the country, with its speech, the smell of its grass and trees, its color and quality of light, the pulse of its people. To reassure himself, he set out on … himself, he set out on a voyage of rediscovery of the American identity, accompanied by a distinguished French poodle named Charley; and riding in a three-quarter-ton pickup truck named Rocinante.
His course took him through almost forty states: northward from Long Island to Maine; through the Midwest to Chicago; onward by way of Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana (with which he fell in love), and Idaho to Seattle, south to San Francisco and his birthplace, Salinas; eastward through the Mojave, New Mexico, Arizona, to the vast hospitality of Texas, to New Orleans and a shocking drama of desegregation; finally, on the last leg, through Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to New York.
Travels with Charley in Search of America is an intimate look at one of America’s most beloved writers in the later years of his life—a self-portrait of a man who never wrote an explicit autobiography. Written during a time of upheaval and racial tension in the South—which Steinbeck witnessed firsthand—Travels with Charley is a stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decade. This Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition also features French flaps and deckle-edged paper.
For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
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I love the way the author uses the English language. His vocabulary had me opening my dictationary often. The gives a realistic view of the United States in the 1960’s. Steinbeck’s dry humor kept me turning the pages!
It just wasn’t what I expected from John Steinbeck.
Love Steinbeck but found this book less than entertaining.
I first read this book when I was in high school and loved it. Now that I am 63, I read it again and came to appreciate the book even more.
I love, Love, Love, this book. I have read it several times over the years when I want an easy, entertaining read that is beyond well written. John and his standard poodle,Charley, decide to go on a trip around the United States to get to know the people of America. It is the mid 60’s and he has a camper built on his truck so he camp and get to know the real people of the U.S. It is a funny, philosophical and entertaining book that I recommend to anyone.
Wish I had read this years ago.
It’s an old Classic I read years ago. Loved it all over again. Beautifully written.
Steinbeck descriptions bring a reader right into the scene. Amazing
America painted with words.
A more personal view of Steinbeck.
Stienbeck is a master teller of tales and this onoe is about him
lovely insight into Americans by one of our great writiers – read it!!
Classic American road-trip.
Great book taken in context of when it was written
My husband very seldom reads a book, however, he read it & enjoyed it very much.
Question on Jeopardy TV: American Authors. He was the first to have both fiction & non-fiction No.1 New York Times bestsellers, the latter featured his beloved poodle. The fiction book is ” The Winter of our Discontent”, “Travels with Charlie” is the Non-fiction book. John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in 1962. I had read both in 1962 & was interested in seeing how Travels with Charlie stood the “test of time”. The people he met were still interesting, but I think his travels through the Southern States were the most “dated”.
TwC has elements of a heroic quest, but on a miniature scale. Steinbeck’s commentary on the state of the nation, even though 70 years old, is still pertinent to our time.
I read Steinbeck’s wondrous travelogue fifty years ago and still remember his descriptions of the bright promise of pre-assassination, pre-Vietnam America. On this fiftieth anniversary of Dr. King’s murder, we’ve changed…and I wonder if we
even remember our mission.
I nearly forgot…this last few decades, I’ve named two of my dogs after Steinbeck’s poodle – and both were foundlings.
Outstanding travelogue from a wonderful storyteller!
Ones thoughts on our society have not changed since the book was written
This was an interesting look at America,t providing both a glimpse of another time in our history and a point of comparison with our current time which is, in fact, not so different despite almost 69 years. Steinbeck is, as always, readable, enabling the reader to enjoy the ride.