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Sale 82
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Lot 970
Steinbeck, John. Autograph letter signed ("John"), 2pp (separate), Villa Panorama, Capri, Italy, Feb. 10, 1962. A charming, informative letter to Robert and Cynthia (Wallsten). In part: "Although nudged and nagged by an antediluvian conscience of a presbyterian order, I am learning to do absolutely nothing and I find myself charmed by the experience. This mild and wily air untouched with carbon monoxide has the quality of an anaesthetic. We sleep long hours and with a relaxation not within recent experience….A few, very few dank and disturbed tourists come in every day but they scurry away when the boat whistle calls them - Tedesci largely and a few Americans….The other day I heard an American tell the dam[n]dest lies about California and didn't bother to let him know I knew they were lies….Last week I finished correction on galleys on Travels with Charley and now I am finished with that. Maybe it is a better book than I thought. There isn't anything new nor very original in it. But at least it is good natured. One thing this stay is doing is to allow me to read enormously. I've gone back over many of the classic things and have found new things in them….For the first time in my memory I am not working on anything - am consciously trying to prevent myself from starting to stew about anything. I can watch an olive tree in the wind indefinitely….But I'm sure that can't last. You can't keep me out of holes in the ground indefinitely….We kind of expect to hear from the boys next week. They will be out of money for one thing….What monsters children are -- and parents too."
Steinbeck quotes several pejorative, witty comments made by Oscar Wilde about American children and women, and says, "What a wonderfully venomous mind he had. I think he was run out of England not for his morals but because of fear of his tongue." He goes on to describe what the local characters on Capri are up to, inquires about Robert's work, and dreads the prospect of going to New York, ending with, "I hear Mother Mouse tramping about so I guess its nearly time to go to the piazza for the evening drink. Else how would we know what is going on."
Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000.
Mel Smith Collection, ex Herman Darvick Auction, 1990.
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| Realized $1,845 |
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