Steinbeck, John

The Red Pony [and] The Great Mountains [and] The Murder; in The North American Review

New York: The North American Review Corporation, 1933-1934. First Edition. 3 volumes, individual issues (November 1933, December 1933 and April 1934) of the magazine, each containing the first appearance of Steinbeck stories. Original printed wrappers bound in plain brown paper covered boards, the front cover of the November '33 issue and the rear cover of the April '34 issue are used as a paste downs. Signed 'J.E. Steinbeck' in pencil on the top of the front cover of each issue (the impression can be read on the back of the November cover that has been pasted down), signed 'John Steinbeck' in pen on the title page of the November '33 issue, along with a stamp reading "This book belongs to Carol and John Steinbeck" on the same title page. Front board has a watercolor of a woman reading (likely by Carol Steinbeck). Rubbing, chips to the spine, soiling, hinges split but holding, else internally very good. Ex- Steinbeck nephew in-law David Heyler. Item #1015

A trio of stories that exhibit Steinbeck’s ability to explore complex human experience at different stages in life. “The Red Pony” is a nuanced exploration about the delicate emotional journey of childhood. “The Murder” uses violence as a transformative act to initiate a shift in a stagnant marriage. “The Great Mountains” considers the themes of aging, the allure of adventure, and the mysterious nature of life and death.

Steinbeck's early career during which these stories were published represents a crucial developmental period in his literary evolution. Writing during the depths of the Great Depression, Steinbeck was beginning to forge connections between individual experiences and broader socioeconomic structures. In these three stories, we can identify his emerging materialist analysis that would later flourish in works like "The Grapes of Wrath." Although not yet explicitly political, these narratives contain the seeds of his later class consciousness. The intergenerational tensions in "The Great Mountains," the complex power dynamics of "The Murder," and the disillusionment narrative in "The Red Pony" all reveal Steinbeck's early interest in how social and economic forces shape human relationships and personal development. His writing methodology during this period involved immersive research into the lives of California's working people, creating an authenticity that distinguishes his work from contemporaries who approached similar themes from more privileged perspectives.

Price: $10,000.00