Autograph Manuscript from "Autobiography: Making of a New Yorker"; Together with Three ALS to His Editor

In total, this collection includes 12 legal page leaves, written in pencil by Steinbeck on rectos only, and one typed letter from his editor. All in near fine condition, with faint toning to edges and small paperclip indentations. (Goldstone & Payne C90, article) With an 11-page typed transcription of the drafts and letters, bound in chronological order of appearance. Housed in a custom brown cloth clamshell case, title printed on paper label affixed to spine. (Provenance: Christie's 1986; Christie's 1999) John Steinbeck's article "Autobiography: Making of a New Yorker," begins in Part One (not included here) with his first unhappy (and short-lived) experience in New York City in 1925, at the age of 23. Part Two, handwritten here, details his second "assault on New York" in the fall of 1935, in which he begrudgingly transforms from a "Country Boy" into a true "New Yorker." At first, Steinbeck writes: "It is so strange to look back. I was going to live in New York but I was going to avoid it." Near the end of the installment, his anecdotes change. He writes: "Everything fell into place. I saw every face I passed. It was beautiful - but most important - I was part of it, I was no longer a stranger." In the final section, handwritten here, Steinbeck describes the broad dichotomy of the city, and romanticizes city life. He writes: "New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous. But. once you have lived in New York and it has become your home - no place else is good enough. All of everything is concentrated here, population, theatre, art, painting, publishing, importing, business, murder, mugging, luxury, poverty. It is all of everything." The correspondence between Steinbeck and NYTM editor Seymour Peck primarily discusses deadlines for the article drafts. In the first letter, Steinbeck tells Peck of his plans for the three-part article. Peck responds on November 26, 1952, asking for all writing to be completed by December 24, 1952. The second letter is inserted at the end of Part Two, informing Peck that Part Three will be along shortly. The third letter, dated December 17, 1952, accompanies Part Three, in which Steinbeck says the article "isn't very good, but it is heart-felt." A truly exceptional collection of autobiographical writings from a classic American author. Despite his reputation as a Californian, John Steinbeck spent nearly half his life living in New York City. In 1925, he left Stanford University without a degree and moved to the city for roughly one year. He returned to New York with his then-girlfriend Gwen, living for a while in Sneden's Landing. They stayed in New York until the birth of his first son, Thom, and the publication of Cannery Row (1945). He later returned to the East Coast with his third wife, Elaine, and bought a home in Sag Harbor in 1955. Steinbeck remained in New York City until his death in 1968.…