PACIFIC + SOUTHWEST.
Classic Fiction. (Sold as Set.)
We need not reintroduce the great John Steinbeck, but only remind of his unimpeachable status at the peak of American letters. On the hunt for more obscure, unique, under-the-radar finds, we often overlook such repackaged reissued volume sets by past literary giants. But the near “Like New” condition of this set, despite its 60 years, and the fact that Steinbeck fits so cleanly into the regionals idea—born in Salinas, California, he could just as easily be assigned to the Central Valley or the Central Coast by way of his subjects—we could not pass up such a find. It seems possible this set was released as marketing juice for Steinbeck’s last work of fiction, The Winter of Our Discontent. Released in 1961, here was Steinbeck’s great lament novel, his thinly veiled social commentary on moral decline gaining some critical acclaim but not a lot of sales. That, plus, Steinbeck having been awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1962 made the time right to republish and reintroduce 1960s America to this early-mid century master, if also to rejuvenate flagging sales. Aside from The Winter of Our Discontent, and the landmark 1939 work of displaced Dust Bowl era “Okies” to the Central Valley, The Grapes of Wrath, the third volume consists of six classic, mostly early-career short novels. These range from the light, even comical Cannery Row, to the militant war-time novel The Moon Is Down (both personal Regionals staff favorites). In all, this wide-ranging Steinbeck set is a perfect way to reintroduce and remind the modern reader to the fact that classics still have the ability to reach into our minds and hearts and amaze us. [Condition: Used Very Good — The only thing separating all three of these fine volumes (the tan-spines, earth-gold covers, with sharp silver author name inlay against black with not a hint of discoloration) is an ever so slight amount of edge wear. We are fairly certain these were never read.]
Condition: Used Very Good.
Fiction.
John Steinbeck.
Viking Press, c. 1960s (original publish dates: 1930s - early '60s).
Hardcovers, 527 pgs / 473 pgs / 281 pgs, 5.75 x 8.5" / 3.6 lb (set of 3)
