Steinbeck, A Life in Letters

New York:: The Viking Press, 1978. A handsome copy of the Boxed Limited Edition of 1000, this being number 666. Bright, clean, square, and tight. 6.5" wide by 9.5" tall. In the original blue cloth binding, housed in grayish blue paper-covered slipcase, without Dust Jacket as issued. NOT faded. NO owner's name or bookplate. NO remainder mark. The slipcase would be FINE but for slight shelf wear. Endpaper color matches the slipcase. Pages are fresh and crisp -- apparently never read. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Steinbeck and several handwritten letter facsimiles. The editors, Elaine Steinbeck (his wife) and Robert Wallsten, have added notes and biographical details when needed for clarity. A chronological appendix identifies over 860 Steinbeck letters with the recipient's name, point of origin, date, and provenance. Index. From the publisher: "The first major collection of Steinbeck's letters, most of which have never been published anywhere, this book constitutes a swift-currented autobiographical narrative and is imbued with all the passionate force Steinbeck brought to his life and art... For John Steinbeck, who hated the telephone, letter-writing was a preparation for work and a natural way for him to communicate his thoughts on people he liked and hated; on marriage, women, and children; on the condition of the world; and on his progress in learning his craft. Opening with letters written during Steinbeck's early years in California, and closing with a 1968 note written in Sag Harbor, New York, STEINBECK: A LIFE IN LETTERS reveals the inner thoughts and rough character of this American author as nothing else has and as nothing else ever will." . First Edition (Limited Edition).. Hard Cover. Very Fine condition./Near Fine slipcase.. 8vo. xvii, 906pp..