Introduction
John Steinbeck said that writing Travels with Charley in Search of America was like writing a novel (p.20). At the end of a long life writing about America, he felt he was writing about something he did not know about. He had first travelled as a young writer so his memories were not good enough, that is why he decided to take the road with Charley.
This book, originally published in 1962, is a self-portrait and memoir of John Steinbeck. It describes the worries of Steinbeck about the America’s changes. Steinbeck was particularly attached to the language and the local differences. He remembered them from his youthful travel and thought that these patterns were gone. In his opinion, the culture was losing its idioms, its rhythms and its figures.
Summary …show more content…
Now, he is an old man with an incurable disease, and he still feels the desire to go away and rediscover his country. In 1960, he decides though to plan a trip. He buys Rocinante, a truck which will be his little house, equips it and takes his ““old French gentleman poodle known as Charley” (p.7). His journey begins at Sag Harbor (Long Island, New York). After a quick goodbye to his wife – both of them hates goodbyes – he boards the ferry. He crosses the country, avoiding major hotels and highways. Every few days, Steinbeck stops at a motel just for bathing. His journey’s major first destination is Maine. Then he follows approximately the border of the US to Pacific Northwest. His trip takes him then south to Salinas Valley and finally through Texas to go back to New
John Steinbeck said that writing Travels with Charley in Search of America was like writing a novel (p.20). At the end of a long life writing about America, he felt he was writing about something he did not know about. He had first travelled as a young writer so his memories were not good enough, that is why he decided to take the road with Charley.
This book, originally published in 1962, is a self-portrait and memoir of John Steinbeck. It describes the worries of Steinbeck about the America’s changes. Steinbeck was particularly attached to the language and the local differences. He remembered them from his youthful travel and thought that these patterns were gone. In his opinion, the culture was losing its idioms, its rhythms and its figures.
Summary …show more content…
Now, he is an old man with an incurable disease, and he still feels the desire to go away and rediscover his country. In 1960, he decides though to plan a trip. He buys Rocinante, a truck which will be his little house, equips it and takes his ““old French gentleman poodle known as Charley” (p.7). His journey begins at Sag Harbor (Long Island, New York). After a quick goodbye to his wife – both of them hates goodbyes – he boards the ferry. He crosses the country, avoiding major hotels and highways. Every few days, Steinbeck stops at a motel just for bathing. His journey’s major first destination is Maine. Then he follows approximately the border of the US to Pacific Northwest. His trip takes him then south to Salinas Valley and finally through Texas to go back to New