Wishlist: A Journey into Steinbeck’s California by Susan Shillinglaw

Ali, in a review over at her blog worducopia, pointed me to a ‘must have’ book today, that’s gone instantly on my wishlist for near-future purchase – A Journey into Steinbeck’s California by Susan Shillinglaw.

Anyone who knows me, or reads this blog is fully aware of my Steinbeck obsession (I’ve now even got a lil doggie called Steinbeck) and even without seeing it, the book gives me goose pimples! Written by a real authority on John Steinbeck (Ali tells you why in her review), this seems to be the book for exploring the California that Steinbeck lived in and wrote about. I’ve skimmed through the sample pages at Amazon.com and they look tasty enough but it’s the product description that’s really got me salivating the most:

This part art book, part biography, and part travel guide offers insight into how landscapes and townscapes influenced John Steinbeck’s creative process and how, in turn, his legacy has influenced modern California. Various types of readers will appreciate the information in this guide—literary pilgrims will learn more about the state featured so prominently in Steinbeck’s work, tourists can visit the same buildings that he lived in and wrote about, and historians will appreciate the engrossing perspective on daily life in early 20th-century California. Offering an entirely new perspective on Steinbeck and the people and places that he brought to life in his writing, readers will find delight in this depiction of the symbiotic relationship between an author and his favorite places.

Drool….drool….the best news for me though, given my overseas location, is the book is available freely on Amazon UK (note: none of my links are affiliate). Now that was a nice surprise! )

Thanks for the ‘heads up’ Ali, and for the great review, and I’ll be sure send my wife in your direction when she spots the new ‘unknown’ charge on my credit card bill )