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Journal of a Novel

The East of Eden Letters

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Journal of a Novel

Written by: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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About this listen

Each working day from January 29 to November 1, 1951, John Steinbeck warmed up to the work of writing East of Eden with a letter to the late Pascal Covici, his friend and editor at 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-hand 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 arguments, 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.

©1969 John Steinbeck (P)2021 Penguin Audio Art & Literature Literature & Fiction Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence World Literature United States
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What the critics say

"Full of insights and revelations involving the gladness and terror of writing." (Chicago Sun-Times)

"A sort of Travels with Charley across a more personal country." (The Boston Globe)

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Wonderful

Wow, this was amazing! I recently read East of Eden and spotted this at the same time, but put it aside for a while. By the time I listened, I didn’t remember some of the details of the characters well, so it might be best read right afterwards. Regardless, it was excellent. So unique, being able to hear Hemingway’s thoughts on a daily basis, as he wrote the book. Loved learning that he had most of the story in mind before starting, and that he wrote it as four books (although he still intended to publish it as one). The impact on him of writing the most troublesome chapters was revealing.

Interesting to learn he used pencils, round ones, sharpening up a huge lot with his electric pencil sharpener each morning! I admire his discipline to his craft. As a sometimes writer myself, I was amused and comforted to hear of how he would procrastinate… yet he was at his desk. He knew how to ease or trick himself into writing, when he wasn’t so inclined.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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