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![STEINBECK FINISHES EAST OF EDEN. Autograph Letter Signed ("John"), to his sister Mary upon the (near) completion of East of Eden, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York], October 18, [1951], with original transmittal envelope, image 1](/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2023-09%2F13%2F25339857-107-2.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
![STEINBECK FINISHES EAST OF EDEN. Autograph Letter Signed ("John"), to his sister Mary upon the (near) completion of East of Eden, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York], October 18, [1951], with original transmittal envelope, image 2](/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2023-09%2F13%2F25339857-107-1.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
Lot 69
STEINBECK FINISHES EAST OF EDEN. Autograph Letter Signed ("John"), to his sister Mary upon the (near) completion of East of Eden, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York], October 18, [1951], with original transmittal envelope,
25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$5,120 inc. premium
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STEINBECK FINISHES EAST OF EDEN.
Autograph Letter Signed ("John"), to his sister Mary upon the (near) completion of East of Eden, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York], October 18, [1951], with original transmittal envelope, leaf creased, toned, and dog-eared at upper left corner, envelope lightly thumbed.
"IT IS THE LONGEST, HARDEST, MOST COMPLEX PIECE OF WORK THAT I HAVE EVER TAKEN ON...."
After a long year composing East of Eden, Steinbeck takes a breath near the end to write his sister Mary. In part: "Next week I finish my book. Since the first of February I have missed hardly a day. If it the longest, hardest, most complex piece of work that I have ever taken on. I hope to goodness it is the best. The moment it is done, Elaine and I are going to the country for two or three days—alone. Then back and to the rewriting. I don't know how long that will take but the book is so painstakingly done that it will require very few changes except in sentences. It will come to about a thousand typed pages and will be one quarter of a million words. I think it is a good book. I hope it is. It will come out perhaps in May. It takes almost as long to manufacture a book as to write it."
The rest of the letter is concerned with family business: their sister Beth is retiring and Steinbeck hopes to have her out east for a visit. He sends words of the boys who visited over the weekend, who he describes as "such good boys," and funny too. After complaining about his eyesight he asks Mary to send a specific lamp from the Pacific Grove house, and even draws a picture of the shade so she is sure to find the right one. He closes by mentioning he is making a mahogany table and hasn't heard from Esther in a while.
"IT IS THE LONGEST, HARDEST, MOST COMPLEX PIECE OF WORK THAT I HAVE EVER TAKEN ON...."
After a long year composing East of Eden, Steinbeck takes a breath near the end to write his sister Mary. In part: "Next week I finish my book. Since the first of February I have missed hardly a day. If it the longest, hardest, most complex piece of work that I have ever taken on. I hope to goodness it is the best. The moment it is done, Elaine and I are going to the country for two or three days—alone. Then back and to the rewriting. I don't know how long that will take but the book is so painstakingly done that it will require very few changes except in sentences. It will come to about a thousand typed pages and will be one quarter of a million words. I think it is a good book. I hope it is. It will come out perhaps in May. It takes almost as long to manufacture a book as to write it."
The rest of the letter is concerned with family business: their sister Beth is retiring and Steinbeck hopes to have her out east for a visit. He sends words of the boys who visited over the weekend, who he describes as "such good boys," and funny too. After complaining about his eyesight he asks Mary to send a specific lamp from the Pacific Grove house, and even draws a picture of the shade so she is sure to find the right one. He closes by mentioning he is making a mahogany table and hasn't heard from Esther in a while.