Fac. Ltrs. Rev. （40）, Otemon
Gakuin
Univ., Dec. 30, 2004
John Steinbeck's America :
America and A mericans (1966),
the Neglected Work
Tsuyoshi ISHIHARA
This essay
will examine
as ａ cultural product
John
which
symbolizes
it will clarify that America
on America
Travels
America
pay
shared
with
by
Charley
during
attention
and
the public.
four
reasons
academia
in contrast
with
John
Steinbeck
starts
following
notice :
In text and
will discuss
by America,
passionate
his last
work,
It is clear that
scholars
of America
Warren French,
it by
of
has
views
travelogue
his views
In this discussion,
and
is entirely
scholarly
for instance,
else could
on
we
will
Finally, we
will
been
ignored
in
Americans
unashamed
different
in
（1966）, with
the
and individual
course it is opinion,
it be ？ But at least it is informed
impatience,
some anger,
and ａ
the Americansべ7）
from
standard
scholarly
books
usually
"objective truths." However,
standard.
says
and
objective truth. Of
personal feelings respecting
measured
his American
Americans
First,
optimistic
in the sixties.
of opinions,
and inspired by curiosity,
this book
hiding authors'
and
America
this is ａ book
speculation. What
love
in the 1960s.
transformation
sphere
（1966）,
its public popularity･
It cannot even pretend to be
and
Americans
critical and
to optimistic.
America
and
of America
it with
the
to the public
for which
pictures,
conjecture,
America
both
comparing
pessimistic
to his involvement
consider
represents
Second,
（1962）, we
last work,
the social milieu
Americans
the sixties from
main
Steinbeck's
One
his recent
of the leading
book
Steinbeck
on Steinbeck's
some
scholar,
non-fiction
writings:
‥.Ｔｈｅmore
and
often
development,
serious
structural
stereotyped
with
weakness
discussions
quite
of trends
unrepresentative
−23−
... is his concluding
and
examples
tendencies
drawn
with
generalized
in “American"
from his
own
JohnSteinbeck's America : America and Americans (1966）,the Neglected Work
experiencesべ110）
The
above
than
their parents," （17）but
“spotted
criticism is true.
immediately
misunderstood
as
and
so are the Japanese
While
he also claims
unique
Surely, this is the book
to make
Itseems
more
of twentieth
century
Donald
Noble
By
to America
of sweeping
such
productive
to ｅχamine
In
the end
as In Dubious
the publication
Hemingway
of The
and
Nisei are
actually
shares
they
are
usually
（over-protection
the same
However,
his works
of The
Grapes
of literary critics severely
In addition, in 1960s, he was
LBJ
had
laureate
and
Steinbeck
had
was
in 1962
and
immediate
not only
ａ certain value
Allthrough
done
problem
it seems
as
too easy
as cultural
Steinbeck
products
Question （1993）,
beyond
being
become,
in fact, ａ national
of Wrath
Steinbeck was ａ celebrity,
writer.
gained
denounces
personally
connection
by popular
in America.
his works
acquainted
with
figure.
the success
of the
like
public
in 40s and
reputation
with
matters
50s, he
as ａ significant
political leaders
in America.
but also as the public
like
Thus,
character
public in America.
First, he represented
society, like monopoly
and
of best-
one of those authors,
ｅχtraordinary
as the private individual
shared
in 1939
the author
xi）
his career as ａ writer, Steinbeck seemed
injustice in American
dimension
Steinbeck
Battle （1936）and
ａ Nobel
public mind
（93）, Japan
or Fitzgerald. （Introduction
many
representing
saj's, The
that “Paedotrophv"
his introduction
became
John
is“taller
criticisms against it.
of the 1930 ｓ Steinbeck
movie in 1940,
and
but
America
writes :
With
JFK
Japan,
in
He even
generalization.
monolithic
America.
sellers such
Although
in Japan.
（17）in
as Japanese.
unproductive
he says, the Japanese
Americans"
of child）is ａ phenomenon
well.
For ｅχample.
to embody
two dimensions
the people's critical mind
of
against
capitalism and racism in America.
This
clearly appears in his realisticdepiction of severe lives of the lower classes
in his early novels in 30s, like, for instance. Californian farm labors on strike in In
Dubious Battle (1936), poor migrant
The Grapes of Wrath｡(1939).
harvesters in Of Mice and Men (1937), or“Okies" in
Although
ideology in these novels, as ａ number
Steinbeck does not clearly show
his political
of criticsclaim. they surely echo people's minds
sh○wn in social welfare and labor movements
arose in 1930s丿 Second, although quite
-
opposite to the firstdimension, he also shared people's naive and optimistic beliefin
24−
Tsuyoshi ISHIHARA
“America
and
Americans."
support for Lyndon
Yevtushenko,
His naive belief in America
Johnson's policy to the Vietnam
bombing would
could come
stop instantly. The
home.
you."
（Benson
shown
in his
Debating with Russian poet
to agree in good
guns
would
It is simple as that, my
people's liberty. We may
fall silent and our dear sons
friend, as simple as that,l promise
was
These two somewhat
fighting for the protection of
say that his patriotic claims reflected hawkish
Americans' simplistic beliefsin so called“American
Americans、For
faith to negotiate, the
993）
in his letters, he believed America
Vietnamese
War.
to be shown
Steinbeck says :
Ifyou could persuade North Vietnam
As
seemed
values."^）
contradictory dimensions
are clearly shown
in America
instance, we can find ａ variety of criticisms against American
and
society,
that is, his reproach against the racial prejudice. the destruction of the environment,
the ｅχcessiveconsumer
culture, and the lack of morality.
Steinbeck devotes separate
chapters especially to the issue of race and environment、In
each chapter, he starts his
discussions
by introducing
environment
in America.
the history of racial injustice and the destruction of
He, however, does not limit the scope of his arguments
only
to the history. He concludes the chapter of race as follows:
Any attempt
to describe the America
issueof racial equality, around
day attitudes turn. We
which
will not have
of today must
much
take into account
the
of our thinking and our present
overcome
the trauma
that slavery has
lefto n our society，North and South, until we cannot remember
whether
the
man we just spoke to in the street was Negro or white.（66）
As shown
pays
above, Steinbeck's main
concern in this book is contemporary
his attention to the history（of slavery）in
issues （of civilrights movement).
America
contemporary
the change
order to clarify his contemporary
For Steinbeck, history is ａ means
of today." Consequently, America
of，race, environment,
of ethics. It was in the 60s that the race riots became
abundance,
and
the serious problems,
was spread. Rachel Carson's The Silent Spring （1962）was
published, a variety of conservation movements
rejected the life of abundance
to clarify“the
and Americans is greatly influenced by the
issues in 1960s，that is, problems
the civil rights movement
issue. He
were
conducted, the counter culture
and traditional ethics.
-
Although we cannot fully discuss the connection
QC
between
this book and each one
John Steinbeck's America:America
of contemporary
issues
shows
interest
his great
Travels
and
with Charley:
Americans,
Negro
children
school
and
possible
write
constant
pressure
Americans
they
the last
America.
words
three
concludes
and
and
confidence
in strikes and
public
women
called
and
weary
nausea."
movement
made
Americansヅ'In
ask, 'What
the
are they
ｅχactly the same
things
security, and love" （66）.
with
the
negation
a pessimistic
Future,"
he
shows
lie. We
of these symptoms
are not satisfied
causes, even
tone.
On
the contrary,
his optimistic
belief in
compared
His claims
above
all the problems
criticisms
against
destruction
solve
America
of nature,
as evidences
America
of inconsistency
his sincere
racial prejudice.
at last. Thus,
energy
pours
my
hope
out in rumbles,
Wasted
energy
is only
in this book
between
severe
to its lackべ143）
and
to prove
The
of ｅχtinction that
in crimes ； but it is energy.
a little problem,
save
with
people
want
Orleans
at［black］children
of civil rights
They
of tiny
He says:
It is in the American
problems
simple.
this book
chapter, “Americans
aged
churned
thoughtless
of America,
of ａ couple
of middle
body
often
for The America
visits ａ New
later in America
some
It's very
− peace, comfort,
never
matriculation
ｅχperiences
years
causes,
want?'
want
He, however,
in
firsthand
Steinbeck
his travelogue
scream invectives
at last he says, “my
these
problem,
of field work
ｓｃｈｏｏじ Heactually
everyday to
of the Negro
do
in
feeling against ａ group
"gathered
to say
instance,
his interest in “the
Orleans
the following
after? What
other
shows
his disgusting
who
For
the race
ot≒America （1962）, a kind
to ｓｃｈｏ０１］”（249）.
Then
It seems
him
In Search
in ａ New
writes
in the 60s, concerning
in this issue.
Steinbeck
“Cheerleaders"
［going
above
and Americans （1966), the Neglected Work
admiration
greediness,
the fiery energy
America
and
and
for America.
so on, but
of Americans
Americans
ends
He
denounces
he can accept
which,
with
these
he believes, will
a
tone
of breezy
optimism尹
his second
seems
last book
and
Americans
two
books.
to intensify
Travels
（1966）. Some
Hughes
his optimism
with
critics claim
during
the early 60s, the period
Search
that there
of America
between
（1962）and
are the differences
America
between
these
says :
The sometimes irreverent,
Americans differs
Steinbeck's
Charley:In
from the
disillusionment
yet underlying positive tone of
recurrent
over
pessimism of
the nation
-
Steinbeck
26−
that surfaces
America
and
Travels with Charley.
in Travels
diminishes
Tsuyoshi
ISHIHARA
withhis more deliberate and reasoned approach in the later volume. （84）
It is too difficultto simplisticallylabel Travels with Charley as pessimistic and America
and Americam
as l quoted, he says that the trauma
become
completely
unconscious
here he seems to somewhat
such
about the difference between
pessimistically imply
kind of equal society. On
pessimistic. For example,
of the slavery will not be overcome
blacks and
until we
whites. but
that it is almost impossible
to have
the other hand, Travels with Charley is not always
he wrote about his wild enthusiasm
plan, and he greatly applauds some
created by his travel
people he met during his journey｡
However, the different tone of voice between
these books is obvious.
One of the
largest differences is their conclusions. In Travels with Charley, the place Steinbeck
visited at last is the South filledwith racial prejudice represented by “Cheerleaders."
After seeing the disgusting scene at the public school in New
feeling is intensified by talking with a scared black old man
all and ａ Southern
concluding
home.
white supremacist
endowed
ends with an episode symbolizing
He gets lost in his hometown,
and Americansブ1
New
1965?=）What
claimed in his concluding
to America
as one of the most
deeply involved in the Vietnam
War;
the traditional ethics. In contrast to his low
close friend of presidents. Moreover,
America
America
spread ；JFK
from 1961 to
did he show
1966?
−97
periods in
was assassinated；
and the counter culture rejected
in the 60s,
as both a Nobel laureate and ａ
Steinbeck was involved in American
suffering with his own
experienced in the 60s, why
challenging
reputation in academia
ａ representative figure of America
the early 60s and saw
has
Crisis happened ； serious race riots
broke out all over America ；the civilrights movement
Steinbeck became
in
during this period ？
history. During this period, the Cuba
was
remarks
does this difference between
did Steinbeck change his view on America
Usually, the early 60s is regarded
America
can never find in Travels
believe that our history, our experience in America,
from ？ Why
happened
his confusion “in search of
York.*）We
us for the change that is coming" （143）. Where
these books come
American
doesn't trust him at
finally abuses him a“nigger lover." In the
with Charley his optimistic belief in America
America
who
chapter, he finally loses his interest in his travel and just hurries back
Then, the book
America."
who
Orleans, his depressed
eyes.
politicsin
In spite of the suffering
optimistic views
on America
in
John Steinbeck'sAmerica:America
Hisstrong optimistic view
serious problems
America
and Americans (1966), the Neglected Work
on America
seems
to be the reaction against these
faced in the early 60s. Although
incidents in siχties,Steinbeck
clearly recognizes
he seldom
that America
names
certain
is facing the most
challenging period in its history :
Revolt against what is in the air一in the violence of the long, hot summer
the resentment
against injustice and inequality, and
；in
against inperceptible or
cynical cruelty. There is blind anger against delay, against the long
preparation for the long journey −perhaps
the longest darkest journey of all,
with the greatest light at the end of it.
（ 143）
It is likely that the more
optimism.
America
The
contrast between
is very clear in America
future of America
what
serious the problems
depends
will destroy
are, the strongei" he has to claim his
his severe criticism and
and Americans、As
on the great energy
America
people's energy. He
tremendous
the problems
to the pessimism
Moreover, we
must
have
may
He claims
knows
that Americans
needed
they are facing. Therefore, he cannot
or cynicism and say“There is no hope in America."
say that Steinbeck, as an important
felt great responsibility for his own
responsibility by encouraging
claimed
before, he thinks that
slothful cynicism" （143）which will
extinguish the fire of American
run away
l quoted
and vitality of Americans.
is “ａ bored and
energy to overcome
his optimistic belief in
Americans
public figure in the 60s,
country, and
to believe in“America
he performed his
and Americans."
He
the significance of each individual American's sense of responsibility toward
their own
country, quoting
president Kennedy's
well-known
remark, "'Ask not what
your country can do for you −ask what you can do for your country'" ［sic］（140）.At
the same
time, his beliefin Americans
was based on his beliefin human
beings, and he
regarded it as ａ writer's responsibility. In 1962, in his Nobel prize acceptance speech,
he says,“I hold that ａ writer who
man
has no dedication nor any membership
America
four main
mere
does not passionately believe in the perfectability of
and Americans
in literature."^）
was completely ignored in academia， and there seems to be
reasons for that. First, The America
commercialized
the most famous
and Americans
was
picture book. It contains nearly a hundred
American
cameramen"
（TLS
1120）ク As some
pictures by“some
of
criticssuggest, many
of the pictures are not directly related to his text accompanying
−28−
disregarded as ａ
them.
However。
Tsuyoshi ISHIHARA
pictures seem
to symbolize
at least two ideal American
text, that is, the beautiful and
energetic America.
images
Steinbeck shows in his
It has ａ variety of pictures of
beautiful American
monuments,
such
as, Monument
Lincoln, Washington
Monument,
Yellow Stone National Park. etc. On the other hand,
it also contains lots of pictures showing
Festival, JFK
and
LBJ
applauded
president of a big department-store,
Black baseball pitcher. There
which
subway,
broken
show
gloomy
and
beautiful"（TLS
by crowds,
The New
was
As one reviewer
trafficjam, and
faces of the New
black man
says. most
looking
academic
review
seem
gift book.
out through
a
was
saccharine impressions
on this book.
the admirer
use of the Nobel
It seems
ignored this book as a "too beautiful" commercial
combination
natural
of John
Steinbeck,
Prize winner's name"
have
given scholars
that academia
has almost
work.
Second, Steinbeck's literary reputation stays relativelylow in academia.
in R. W. B. Lewis' criticalessay in 1959 against Steibeck's optimism,
criticsdeclined in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and many
to receive ａ Nobel prize. The
of the
surely based on the commercial
complains, “To even
ａ commercial
in his text. It is no
The
111）. In addition, these “too beautiful" pictures must
Steinbeck Scholar, Donald
As shown
his reputation
criticsfeltinadequate
for him
Noble, asks ａ question, "in an
average year his contemporaries and fellow Nobel Laureates,
Hemingway,
York
of the pictures seem “too
Steinbeck mentioned
published as ａ Christmas
this latest 'book' must
among
a female
pictures （ｏｕtof nearly one ｈｕndred）
beautiful pictures and ａ Nobel laureate's name
（Hatley
as, Italian
1120）, There is no picture of race riot,garbage, assassination, poverty.
the book
strategy. One
Stock Exchange,
America : one is ａ picture of weary
in Harlem.
such
Civil-rights demonstration,
York
are only two
destruction of nature. or the dirty America
wonder
the vitality of America,
the other one is a picture of young
window
Valley, Liberty Bell, Statue of
Faulkerner and
are each treated in perhaps 120 0ｒ130 scholarly books and articles,why is
Steinbeck the subject of only fifteen or twenty?" （2）. Steinbeck biographer, Jackson
Benson, also says,“Your
chances of reading Steinbeck in ａ major university are very
10ｗ and in the Ivy League, practically zero" （11). We
indifferent atmosphere
may
in academia， scholars have ａ tendency
Steinbeck's works seriously including his last book, America
Third,its optimistic, somewhat
fit to the New
say that because of this
Left scholars who
not to take any
and Americans.
conservative. and broad arguments
formed
−29−
ａ dominant
of
do not seem
school in the academia
to
of
John Steinbeck's America : America and Americans (1966), the Neglected Work
American
Steinbeck
history from the late 60s to the early 80s. In its last chapter and conclusion,
predicts that America
optimistically approves
New
some
mistakes
War
America
not to“make
traditional morals and codes of conduct.
what
"Ethics, morals,
New
of the
codes of
Leftists criticized are those
Steinbeck's broad and unfocused
without practical solutions for the problems
the
mistakes." In addition, Steinbeck
somewhat nostalgically emphasizes the significance of
the contrary, however,
he
As represented by Howard
book, Vietnam: The Lo球c of Withdrawal （1967）,many
Leftists tried to reform
conduct." （141）. On
in its future, but
as ａ result of America's excessive energy. However,
Leftists were not optimistic in the future of America.
Zinn's anti-Vietnam
New
them
will make
facing America
arguments
are distinct from the New
Leftists'practical and focused arguments, represented by their studies of social history.
Fourth,America
America,
and Americans
but his unified image of America is not acceptable for scholars of
multicLilturalism in the 80s and 90s.
Unum,"
Steinbeck
starts his first chapter,“E Pluribus
as follows:
Our land is of every kind geologically and climatically,and our people are of
every kind also−of every race, of every ethnic category − and yet our land is
one nation, and
compounded
our people are Americans.
of wishes
Pluribus Unum,"
and
dreams.
The
Mottoes
motto
have ａ way
of the United
of being
States,“Ｅ
is ａ fact. This is the strange and almost unbelievable truth；
…（13）
Sometimes,
Steinbeck implies that the Americanization
instance, as quoted at the beginning
Americans
seems
means
of this essay, he suggests
are usually taller and have lighter skin than
to imply
that his image
Westernization.
of Americanization
For
Nisei Japanese-
their parents, but here he
is in fact an assimilation of non-
whites into whites.
He, however,
theory. Introducing
the severe history of racial and ethnic prejudice in America, he
pays
much
does not romantically
attention to the differences and
believe in the melting-pot
conflicts between
However, in terms of multiculturalism, his unified image
each
of America
ethnic group.
does not seem
to
be acceptable. He says:
The Pilgrims Fathers took out after the Catholics, and
Jews. The
Irish had
their turn running
both
the gantlet, and
-
Germans, the Poles, the Slovaks, the Italians, the Hindus,
30−
clobbered
after them
the
the
the Chinese, the
Tsuyoshi
Japanese,
the Filipinos, the Meχicans.
names
: Mucks,
forth.
The
Sheenies,
turn
self-defensive,
the
other
against
and
boys
this very
and
cruelty
toward
Although
he recognizes
history,
multiculturalists.
group
became
To
down
might
strangers
they
In fact, the
the
turn
solvent,
their value,
were
history
against
and
made
multiculturalists,
the
“Americans."
Ronald
They
Takaki,
of
experience
ethnic
each
leading
in a taχiin the South.
rearview
been
in this country
in the
mirror
United
wondering
in
your
before, I eχplained :“My
strangers
were
America.
In
of
man
"All my
ａ strong
English
southern
drawl,
is excellent!"
grandfather
came
here
Then
from
not look “American"
“majority,"
However,
seems
very
experience
Americans?
strong.
from
Most
l did
Steinbeck's
America
of them
academia,
and
claims. the power
As ａ Japanese
Takaki's.
fraction of
addition,
merged with
for
the
of his book,
introduces
his
long
have
you
he remarked
as ｌ had
Japan
years."
born
:“l was
many
times
in the 1880 s. My
He glanced
to him ； my
at me
eyes
and
foreign. （1）
that, in the recent
as Steinbeck
of
self-
life,"I replied, wincing. “l was
Somehow
somewhat
In
in his forties. "How
mirror.
wonder
for
writes:
in
it is no
in
the relocation
multiculturalism,
for over a hundred
Thus,
optimistic
the beginning
here. in America,
looked
minorities
for ａ small
NOT
has been
complexion
（15）
“after" ａ minoritv
in deserts.
family
the
with
and economically independent."
camps
historians
?" he asked.
With
too
Take
to sell their properties
reflected ａ white
states."
because
He
continues
that
the speed
against
seems
anonymous.
to the relocation
are still“strangers"
The
group
solvent,
and national
of the
minorities
to me
the “Americans."
violence
joined
instance. While they were not
"sound,
to move
one
with
so
solvent,
group
It occurs
far to explain
merged
economically
called “Jap," forced
and
go
sound,
each
ones.
the rejection. prejudice, and
most of them were
However,
until it became
on the newest
disparaging
Yellowbellies，and
anonymous一whereupon
newcomers
on
we gave
Raehead,
continued
Japanese-Americans during the WWII for
defensive,
all these people
Dagos､Wops,
group
national
his view
sound,
each
charged
the ethnic and
American
Krauts,
economically
which
here
ISHIHARA
In
scholar
America,
seemed
where
Americans
the multiculturalism
is totally ignored.
of assimilation
who
how
to ask me
−31−
studied
many
of American
in the South,
times
since they
become
was
thought
I had
l asked
ｌ am
culture also
different
directions
an American.
by
It
John Steinbeck's America:America
and Americans （1966）,the Neglected Work
is sure that Japanese people never ask directions from people other than yellow races.
When
Ｉ was asked directions,I felt that America
of races. Thus, the answer
for the question “Is America
different according to what
Therefore, it seems
one-sided
part of America
point of view
because it presents ａ unified image
Steinbeck'sAmerica
readersグ As
academia.
America
and Americans
Its arguments
the
critics put
to ignore America
has been
it has
widely shared
been
are surely too broad
put too much
unified or separated ･?"will be
emphasis
but Steinbeck's America.
almost
and
is worth
studying
on.
mid Americans
just
among
completely neglected
on ａ unified America.
However,
ａ variety of
too optimistic, lead
his America
culturally constructed in many people's minds. For
Americans
their emphasis
of America.
I suggested, however,
simplification, and
was ａ country consisting of ａ variety
in
to over-
It is not ａ real
is true to the America
that reason, America and
as ａ significant cultural product
of the 20"' century
America.
Notes
O
See Jackson
American
J. Benson
and
Literature,52（May
Anne
Loftis, "John Steinbeck
and Farm
Labor
Unionization."
1980），194−223. Peter Lisca,“Ａ HistoricalIntroduction
Mice and Men," in The Sho}'tNovels of John
Steinbeck, ed. Jackson
to Of
Benson, 39 −47. Peter
Lisca, ed.,John Steinbeck. "The Grape of Wrath": Text and Criticism.
2）See
Tetsumaro
Hayashi, John Steinbeck and the Vietnam
War （Muncie, Indiana : Steinbeck
Research Institute,1986）.
3）While
in the novel he never
makes
criticalcomment
used in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath.
introduces somewhat
power
openly, this is the same
Although
almost
all through
rhetoric he
his narrative, he
hopeless lives of“Okies," he ends it with ａ hopeful scenes filledwith
of life,that is, ａ tableau of Rose
of Sharnon
breast-feeding
a starving stranger.
Thus, as one scholar claims,it seems reasonable to say that America and A mer･icans is work
of“pastiche of John Steinbeck" (Hughes
4）In
his letter,he shows
his confusion
81）.
and pessimism
in his writing of this travelogue: “It's
formless, shapeless, aimless thing and itis even pointless‥‥I'm speaking of this completed
Journey
haphazard
Thinking
now.
And
outside of its geographical
thing. The
and
mountain
thinking for ａ word
simple rotting. I seemed
nearly everyone
was
worked
design and its unity of time, it's such ａ
and
not even
to describe decay. Not
to carry on with ａ weary
against many
Republicans hating Democrats
5）Steinbeck
has labored
things.
Negro
has come
inertia. No one was for anything
hating white.
forth.
White
and
hating negroes.
although there is littledifference."(A Life in Letters 702）.
on his writing of Travels with Charley from
finished writing America
ａ mouse
disruption, not ｅχplosion but
and Americans
in December
−32−
February
to July 1961, and
1965. See Jackson Benson, The
True
TsuyoshiIshihara
Adventures
6) This
book
introduction
of John Steinbeck (New
York : Viking Press, 1984) 892 -8, 964, 968.
was
to be published
originally planned
and
intrigued by with
captions
the theme
"John Steinbeck's America
as a picture book
for a collection of photographs.
with
Steinbeck's
Steinbeck, however,
was
and wrote a series of essays instead. See Barbara Heavillin,
and Americans
(1966)." A New
Works, with CriticalExplications. Ed. Tetsumaro
Hayashi
Study Guide to Steinbeck's Major
(Metuchen,
NJ : Scarecrow
Press,
1993) 3-5.
7)
1962 Nobel
The Web
8 ) Most
Prize Acceptance
Speech
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/steinbec/nobel.html
at
site of Center for Steinbeck. San Jose: San Jose State U, 1999.
of the reviews
of America
honest, sincere, powerful
and Americans
praised it. One review
piece of writing, better perhaps
since the thirties. Not everyone
will like everything
few will be able to resist reading it" (Moon,
than
Steinbeck
most
concludes, "It is
things he has done
says in this book, but very
5962). In addition, this book also seemed
to be
widely read in classrooms at high schools. One review in a journal for high school teachers
of English highly recommended
this book
since "the recent television program
and it gives "old concepts in a new light" {English Journal, 752). Moreover,
also highly esteemed
applauds
and popular in other countries.
One
England
based on it"
this book
was
review, for instance,
his keen insight and says, "Steinbeck's writing in this book indicates that he still
has the perception and ability to write another good
In Japan, for example,
this book
novel of social protest" (Hatley 112).
had been one of the most
popular books
of America
for
almost thirty years. It was translated in 1969 just three years after the publication, and the
twenty-ninth
book
edition was published in 1995. In addition, surely the most popular Japanese
on American
culture, Ryotaro
frequently quotes this book
Shiba's Amerika
Sobyo {The
to explain the dynamism
is a travelogue based on his forty days
travelin America.
during his short visit to Steinbeck's hometown,
Sketch of America)
of American
(1986),
history. Amerika
Sobyo
Shiba also writes his experience
Salinas California. In this book, he shows
his fascination with Steibeck's vigorous style and his realism, and he shares some idea with
Steinbeck.
For instance, he also emphasizes
variety of ethnic
Americans,
groups
he became
the vitality of America
in a short period.
an important
As
which
well as Steinbeck
and
assimilated a
America
and
public figure of Japan in his later years, and Amerika
Sobyo has been completely ignored in Japanese academia.
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Benson, Jackson. The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer. New
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Essays and Criticism. Ed. David
Love
Noble. Troy, New
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Literature,52 (May
We
Hatlev. Don.
York : Whitson
"John Steinbeck and Farm
Labor
P, 1993 : 8-22.
Unionization." American
1980), 194-223.
Carson, Rachel. The Silent Springs. Boston : Houghton
French, Warren.
York : Viking, 1984.
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John Steinbeck s Nonfiction Revisited. New
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York : Twayne
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John Steinbeck's America: America and Americans (1966),the Neglected Work
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Steinbeck
s Major
Steinbeck's America
and Americans （1966）."A
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New
Study
Guide
Havashi Metuchen,
to
NJ:
Scarecrow Press, 1993: 3-5.
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Robert.
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America
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Steinbeck, "The
Durham
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The Steinbeck
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America and Americans.
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