So, in his delightful and unique travels, a great writer guides us all over modern USA from the cold, beautiful, taciturn North to his love affair with Montana through Idaho, Seattle, California, the vast spaces and king-size hospitalities of Texas on to New Orleans and a drama of racial hate then home through Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania. His only companion was his elderly dog Charley, his transport a wondrously equipped pick-up truck christened Rocinante. 'Feeling that he had lost the intimate knowledge of his vast native land he valued so highly John Steinbeck set out to 'rediscover' America. Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, age-toning to edges, minor watermarking to end-papers, dust-jacket shows edge and shelf wear with watermarking, rubbing, chipping, small tears and small parts missing at edges (see photographs) You can listen online to free English audiobook “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” by John Steinbeck on our website.Readers Book Club, 1964,hardcover, dust-jacket He reviews American society and comments on the changes he encounters since Steinbeck travelled the same parts of the country. After self reflection, he reports, 'I did not know my own country' (5). He states that his main objective in taking his cross-country trip is to reconnect with America. Mak wrote a book about it, called 'Traveling without John'. In Part One of Travels with Charley, Steinbeck outlines the purpose of his journey.

Interesting fact! In 2010 the Dutch journalist and author Geert Mak travelled the same route Steinbeck had followed, basing himself on the notes from Steinbeck's diary as well as the book. Such a trip encompasses nearly 10,000 miles. His travels start in Long Island, New York, and roughly follow the outer border of the United States, from Maine to the Pacific Northwest, down into his native Salinas Valley in California, across to Texas, up through the Deep South, and then back to New York. Steinbeck tells of travelling throughout the United States in a specially made camper he named Rocinante, after Don Quixote's horse. According to Steinbeck's son Thom, Steinbeck made the journey because he knew he was dying and wanted to see the country one last time. The idea was that he, pretty much depleted as a novelist, would travel alone, stay at campgrounds and reconnect himself with the country by talking to the locals he met along the way. Travels With Charley, by John Steinbeck A review by Edward Weeks A s his books reveal, John Steinbeck is a writer who is happiest when he gets down to earth. In September 1960, John Steinbeck and his poodle, Charley, embarked on a journey across America. John Steinbeck, the author of such classics as Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, and East of Eden, remains firmly planted in the souls of his readers today. Feeling that he had lost the intimate knowledge of his vast native land he valued so highly John Steinbeck set out to rediscover America.

Charley john steinbeck