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Lot 93

STEINBECK (JOHN)
Carbon typescript of an unpublished short story, 'The Bettencourt/ A Christmas Story', [c.1955/1956]

20 November 2024, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £5,120 inc. premium

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STEINBECK (JOHN)

Carbon typescript of an unpublished short story, 'The Bettencourt/ A Christmas Story', inscribed at head in ink "With Christmas/ wishes dear Frere/ from/ John Steinbeck/ 1956", with additional autograph note "I hope the analogy and symbolism of the season are not too apparent to limit pleasure in the story for its own sake. J.S." at end, four pages on flimsy copy paper, stapled top left corner, 4to (280 x 218mm.), [c.1955/1956]

Footnotes

'EVERYONE KNEW THAT SOMETHING REMARKABLE HAD HAPPENED IN THE BOY'S TOILET': A rare unpublished manuscript presented to selected friends by Steinbeck for Christmas 1956 and 1957. Deemed unpublishable, even for someone of Steinbeck's literary stature, the story concerns children at an elementary school, their fascination with bodily functions and the hierarchy of the schoolroom.

Provenance: From the papers of publisher Alexander Stuart Frere (1892-1984); thence by descent to the present owner.

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