This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/1/2025
John Steinbeck autograph letter signed, dated 12 May 1959 to his typist Mary Morgan. Lengthy letter handwritten in pen talks at length about Steinbeck's writing process and other topics. At top is a stamp of a pig with wings, with Steinbeck handwriting ''Ad Astra Per Alas Porci'' translating from Latin, ''to the Stars by the Wings of Pigs''. Letter reads in part,
''Dear M.M.: You may believe that I have neglected you, and you would be right. I have neglected everyone save Malory. But to that work I have been pouring the cooking oil and I am pleased with my progress. I believe it is good and I have no one to back me up in my belief. But even if it isn't, I still think it is.
One thing I discovered early, that I could not let it out of my hands before I had seen it in type. The wife of one of the masters at King's School Bruton is typing a first draft. Hope you don't feel double crossed. But you know as well as I do that something happens in type. Errors show that can't be seen in my scribbling.
It is much the same as my use of tape. In that regard I have a wonderful little tape recorder. It only weighs eight pounds, is all transistor and operates on four flashlight batteries. It is not dependent on current and can be taken anywhere and used anywhere. It is extraordinary sensitive. I love it and use it constantly for listening back to my own not immortal words. In fact, on listening back many of my words prove very mortal indeed. But it goes on.
Now off the main theme. Even the inhabitants admit that this is the most beautiful spring in many years - a golden and green spring. I seem to be able to hear the grass grow. The lushness and the flowers are fantastic. This small cottage is just right for us - and the quiet and lack of nervousness here is a poultice. It is going to be very hard indeed to go back to the slings and arrows, pneumatic drills and irritability of New York. However just knowing this is here and that one can come back is enough perhaps. But I will be a spoiled new boy. The people here are so friendly. My sister Mary came and stayed a week with us and then went on. Our spare room is an ancient cattle byre where cows and pigs once stayed but it makes a pleasant room. We are not encouraging visitors, however. This house is too small and my work too concentrated. This is my selfishness year. I'm going to get this work done in spite of hell and high water.
I've heard just once from the boys. What little savages they are. But Catbird from failure passed everything in his latest report and got a good in math which is fantastic for him. Maybe he's finally taking hold. Has Tom ever answered you about the money? I'm afraid he learned from his mother to avoid responsibility by ignoring it...Let me know because if he has not answered you, it would be natural for you to tell me about it after all this time.
Our life here is simple to the point of being primitive and yet very satisfying. / How do you like my rubric at the head of this letter. It was designed for me by an old man Count Fossi of Florence after alliance. Some day I will have it cut in steel for a seal ring of magnificent proportions. Old Fossi is 80 years old, does not use glasses and bounds up and down stairs like a boy. He is a descendent of the great Florentine families of the middle ages and he has their vigor.
And all of this leads now to the fact that I have to go to work to finish the section I have laid out to do today. / Let me here from you when you have a moment from your job as Canadian Ambassadors. Wasn't the Luce thing funny? People sent us clippings and we get the overseas weekly N.Y. Times. I find I do not read it very closely, however. Inaccurate[?] things are not nearly so nerve wracking...and the world is not coming to an end...yours / John''. Steinbeck is referring in this last paragraph to the Senate confirmation hearing of Clare Boothe Luce, who insulted a Democratic Senator by saying he had gotten ''kicked in the head by a horse''.
Two page letter on a single sheet of lined paper measures 8'' x 13''. Folds, overall near fine condition.