What Makes an American?
— Steinbeck “Travels with Charley” Hoping to Find Out
Some books are a document of their time. They can serve as historical testimony, telling us about the moods of society or giving evidence to processes that turn out to be transformative over time. Does Steinbeck provide that in “Travels with Charley”, the book that documents his travels across the US in the early sixties?
Steinbeck wanted to reconnect with his country and people — travel through its landscapes, feel and hear the local population as an ordinary citizen. He nurtured a wish to rediscover his own land after his many travels and experiences around the world. Maybe he was having an age crisis and needed some time on his own.
“On such a trip as mine, so much there is to think about.”
The year was 1960 and John Steinbeck was about to turn 60. He was already a well-established and recognized author when he went on this journey. The traveler relied on a well-equipped pick-up truck and had his dog Charley as a companion. He traveled anonymously not to be noticed, aiming at observing the landscape as much as scrutinizing the soul of his compatriots.
A Journey of Discovery?
The best way to learn about a country may be to travel through it and feel its vibrations. The…
