John Steinbeck California Guide

A Journey into Monterey, Salinas,
Carmel and Pacific Grove

A Journey into Steinbeck's California by Susan Shillinglaw shows readers how towns like Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Salinas influenced the author of The Grapes of Wrath and Cannery Row.

Of Mice and Men, according to the author of A Journey into Steinbeck's California, 'is, perhaps, the book that makes readers out of more high school students than any other.' Known for classic novels like The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, East of Eden, The Pearl and The Winter of Our Discontent, as well as some great non-fiction includingTravels with Charley, A Russian Journal and Once There Was a War, John Steinbeck was a worthy winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

The author of A Journey into Steinbeck's California, Susan Shillinglaw, knows her subject intimately. As well as being Professor of English at San Jose State University, she is the Scholar in Residence at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, and lived in various places throughout the state which influenced his writing so much.

John Steinbeck California Guide

Shillinglaw traces Steinbeck's personal and literary journey through California, and while this is in no way an in-depth biography of one of America's favorite authors, the reader gets to know Steinbeck in a more personal and intimate way.

The book is fully illustrated throughout, and we get to see Steinbeck's houses, the view through his window, see the landscapes he saw, the places he worked, meet his wives and his friends.

A Journey into Steinbeck's California is no dry academic study or biography, but a warm portrait of a man by someone who has the ability to see California through his eyes, to show us its influences on him, and to recreate the times in which he lived. 

’Small Human Stories’

John Steinbeck in California

Steinbeck isn't particularly thought of as an author who turned his life into fiction, but his works like The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men and especially Cannery Row did come out of the writer's personal life and his loves and friendships.

In these pages we meet the characters who inspired him – personally as well as creatively in his work. 'With Steinbeck,' writes Shillinglaw, 'we can pay attention to the slant of afternoon light, catch some of the region's layered past, and get a glimpse of small human stories tucked into inland valleys.'

It's those glimpses of 'small human stories’ which make Steinbeck such a great writer, whose work will last longer than many of his contemporaries who were more interested in shouting about their own lives than in quietly describing the lives of other people. To Steinbeck ordinary people were extraordinary.

Susan Shillinglaw is a skilful and evocative writer herself. 'Steinbeck,' she writes, 'never again lived in the Salinas Valley once he left home at age seventeen. But the smells and sounds and sights of his home valley never left him.' For those of his readers who have not yet visited Steinbeck's California, this book in the impressive ArtPlace series from Roaring Forties Press is the next best thing.

Buying This John Steinbeck California Guide

A Journey into Steinbeck's California is available on Amazon and is published by Roaring Forties Press in their ArtPlace Series, which also include:

A Journey into Dorothy Parker's New York
A Journey into Ireland's Literary Revival
A Journey into Matisse's South of France
A Journey into Flaubert's Normandy

Other book reviews

  • West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

    Road Food Guide

    West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

  • The Green Guide to the USA West from Michelin covers California, the Pacific North West, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and even Kansas and Alaska.

    Green Guide USA West

    The Green Guide to the USA West from Michelin covers California, the Pacific North West, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and even Kansas and Alaska.

  •  Pacific Coast Highway Travel takes the 17-Mile Drive from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey, stopping to see the Lone Cypress and beautiful coastline views.

    The 17-Mile Drive between Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Monterey

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel takes the 17-Mile Drive from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey, stopping to see the Lone Cypress and beautiful coastline views.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends where (else) to eat in Monterey based on personal favorites and help from a Monterey restaurant review website.

    Where Else to Eat in Monterey

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends where (else) to eat in Monterey based on personal favorites and help from a Monterey restaurant review website.

  • Greetings from California is a beautiful coffee-table book which describes the legends, landmarks and lore of California, including the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Greetings from California

    Greetings from California is a beautiful coffee-table book which describes the legends, landmarks and lore of California, including the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • The Napa and Sonoma Guidebook to California Wine Country is from the Moon Handbooks’ travel guide series with reviews of wineries,vineyards, and wine tastings.

    Napa and Sonoma Guidebook

    The Napa and Sonoma Guidebook to California Wine Country is from the Moon Handbooks’ travel guide series with reviews of wineries,vineyards, and wine tastings.

  • Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

    Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips: Lonely Planet Guidebook Review

    Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

  • The Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is one of the top sights in Monterey and along the whole Pacific Coast Highway.

    Monterey Bay Aquarium

    The Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is one of the top sights in Monterey and along the whole Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Vintage Hollywood alongside 51 other perfect weekends.

    Culture Trails

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Vintage Hollywood alongside 51 other perfect weekends.

  • Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

    Gardens Of the Pacific Coast Highway

    Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

  • The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

    The Best Coast Book Review

    The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

    Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Guides. Book and ebook hotel guides to PCH

    Pacific Coast Highway guides include our own printed book and ebook guides to the best hotels along the PCH, available in paperback, PDF and Kindle formats.

  • The guide to California Bed and Breakfast Inns lists over 250 boutique hotels, wine country cottages and more.

    California Bed and Breakfast Inns

    The guide to California Bed and Breakfast Inns lists over 250 boutique hotels, wine country cottages and more.

  • A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

    Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos

    A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to where to eat in Monterey including on Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, fish restaurants and the best clam chowder.

    Where to Eat in Monterey

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to where to eat in Monterey including on Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, fish restaurants and the best clam chowder.

  • For a Monterey Inn just off the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the Mariposa Inn and Suites is hard to beat, providing good accommodation close to PCH.

    Monterey Inn

    For a Monterey Inn just off the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the Mariposa Inn and Suites is hard to beat, providing good accommodation close to PCH.

  • The Los Angeles travel guide book from Lonely Planet also covers San Diego and Southern California, including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and Disneyland.

    Los Angeles Travel Guide

    The Los Angeles travel guide book from Lonely Planet also covers San Diego and Southern California, including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and Disneyland.

  • One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.

    California Coast Guide

    One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.

  • Books About the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Oregon and Washington including travel guidebooks, route guides, restaurant guides, and many more.

    Books About the Pacific Coast Highway

    Books About the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Oregon and Washington including travel guidebooks, route guides, restaurant guides, and many more.

  • Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

    California Backroads

    Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Monterey including art and history museums, museums for families and the fantastic Monterey Bay Aquarium.

    Best Museums in Monterey

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Monterey including art and history museums, museums for families and the fantastic Monterey Bay Aquarium.

  • Vintage Hollywood in Los Angeles is an extract from the Lonely Planets book Culture Trails.

    Vintage Hollywood

    Vintage Hollywood in Los Angeles is an extract from the Lonely Planets book Culture Trails.

  • To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

    Cannery Row in Monterey

    To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

  • The Washington State travel guide from Frommer's covers hotels in Seattle, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, Olympic National Park, where to eat and more.

    Washington State Travel Guide

    The Washington State travel guide from Frommer's covers hotels in Seattle, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, Olympic National Park, where to eat and more.



Recent Articles

  1. Northern Elephant Seals

    Oct 28, 24 02:52 PM

    elephant-seals-piedras-blancas-beach-9.jpg
    Pacific Coast Highway Travel tells you what you need to know about California’s Northern Elephant Seals, and where to go to see them in their natural habitat.

    Read More

  2. World’s 5 most scenic roads that will take your breath away

    Oct 26, 24 04:18 AM

    Exploring these scenic drives—Australia’s Great Ocean Road, USA’s Pacific Coast Highway, Iceland’s Ring Road, Italy’s Stelvio Pass, and Argentina’s Route 40—offers an unforgettable experience of natur…

    Read More

  3. 10 Most Scenic Road Trips to Take in the US

    Oct 12, 24 04:08 AM

    Whether you’re looking to take a leisurely drive down the coast or embark on an epic cross-country journey, there are plenty of scenic routes to choose from in the United States. To help you plan your…

    Read More