Travels with Charley in Search of America – Book Review by Bill

John Steinbeck really needs no introduction. He is arguably America’s greatest author. I cut my teeth of “The Grapes of Wrath”. Steinbeck was born in California and died in New York. During his relatively short life, 66 years, he saw and experienced the effect of World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, The Civil Rights Movement, and Vietnam on America. One of his last books was Travels with Charley in Search of America. Travels with Charley is a travelogue and a time capsule of America in 1960.

My Review:

In 1960, John Steinbeck was living in Long Island. He was at the peak of his popularity. But he had an “itch” to see the country. He could sense that America was changing-again. He converted a truck into a camper, loaded his Poodle –Charley into the passenger seat and spent the fall of that election year roaming the country. 1960 was a year of transition- The Kennedy/Nixon presidential election was nearing its climax…The Civil rights movement was finally affecting every region of the country….The Interstate Highway System was beginning to take shape eventually destroying most of our nation’s regional charm..And the space age had arrived! Pick up a copy of Travel’s with Charley…go back in time to 1960 and enjoy an excellent read!

I give this book a 4 out of 5!

Details:

Title: Living in a Foreign Language.
Title: Travels with Charley.
Author: John Steinbeck.
Publisher: Penquin.
Year: 2002 (Originally- 1961)
Pages: 224.
Format: Trade Paperback.

Safe Reading, My Friends!
Bill