This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/1/2025
John Steinbeck typed letter signed with detailed content on his two sons and parenting in America. Writing to his typist Mary Morgan, letter includes the second page only, noted as Page 2 at top, circa the fall of 1958 given content. Letter reads in part,
''...My weight stays down and I think I will drop it a little more. It is about 178. I think I would like to take it to about 170. I am a very intemperate man. Even my virtues are intemperate. I never do anything gently and it occurs to me that I would like to have five pounds to play with. If I wanted a gigantic spaghetti dinner, for instance, I would have those gambly pounds. Anyway that is the purpose. Since I dropped from about 220 I have a certain look of litheness which hasn't beenso [sic] since I was about fifteen years old. I can't leap out of the boat and climb a rope without turning red in the face. I can work without puffing. I can even climb up the stairs of 206 without puffing. So it is worth it you see.
Both boys are in school now, and as it must be to all men, homesickness is upon them. It is not true that you are only homesick for a good home. You are moved to agony by change. Thom is at the Forman School, Litchfield, Conn. and John at Eaglebrook School, Deerfield, Mass. If you feel the urge of kindness, please drop them a card. Right now they are holding onto any contacts with the old life and while I am not giving them any sympathy because I think that is bad, I am writi[ng] to them very often so that they may have a feeling that the old life is not dead just because a new one is starting. That is the natural feeling of course. I remember when it happened to me and I remember how it hurt. Do you?
I think one of the great crimes american parents commit against their children is trying to protect them from things that are going to happen anyway and the later the harder. The second american crime is trying to make everything fun. This is nonsense and I have never done it. Latin grammar and basic arithmetic is not fun. It is a deadly dreary chore but it has to be done. Only after it is over can you have fun with it - the joy of Vergil or the pleasure of using a formula the learning of which was terrible. I have never lied to my kids about this. I think that is as bad as telling a kid the dentist is not going to hurt. When he does, the shock is much greater than if they knew it was going to hurt but that the hurt doesn't last long. But then I highly disapprove of American parents in nearly everything including their sense of guilt toward their children. / It is saturday and I am going on and on. / Do let me hear from you, Mary. The work is begging to be done...[signed] John''.
Single page measures 8.25'' x 10.625'', signed in pencil. Folds and staple puncture, overall near fine.