Even as an avid, life-long fanatic of John Steinbeck’s writings, Travels With Charley never really appealed to me. Written and published not so many years before his passing, in retrospect it seems fitting that an autobiography of sorts would cap off such a brilliant career.
It seems Steinbeck woke up one day in 1960 and realized that, while he had written about America for most of his life, it had been many years since he’d actually touched the land and her people. Living in New York by then, he decided to outfit what we today consider a motorhome, and embark on a three month circuit of the country. His aging poodle, Charley, is the perfect companion.
Part way through the book, I realized I had only ever read fictional stories by Steinbeck. Travels With Charley lays bare the man; the strength of his character; his humility; his faults and his biases. It is a fascinating read.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about reading Travels With Charley in 2024 is that it is a snapshot of the country as it was in 1960. My, how things have changed. Hint: Just try driving all the way around America today with a couple of hunting rifles hanging in the truck!
I would highly recommend this book to any John Steinbeck fans out there!
The Prairie Fiddler 