Travels with Charley in Search of America

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Gary Sinise

An intimate journey across America, as told by one of its most beloved writers

To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the light—these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, at the age of fifty-eight, to rediscover the country he had been writing about for so many years.

With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, encounters bears at Yellowstone and old friends in San Francisco. Along the way he reflects on the American character, racial hostility, the particular form of American loneliness he finds almost everywhere, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

Critic reviews

“Pure delight, a pungent potpourri of places and people interspersed with bittersweet essays on everything from the emotional difficulties of growing old to the reasons why giant sequoias arouse such awe.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Profound, sympathetic, often angry . . . an honest moving book by one of our great writers.” —The San Francisco Examiner

“This is superior Steinbeck—a muscular, evocative report of a journey of rediscovery.” —John Barkham, Saturday Review Syndicate

“The eager, sensuous pages in which he writes about what he found and whom he encountered frame a picture of our human nature in the twentieth century which will not soon be surpassed.” —Edward Weeks, The Atlantic Monthly

Pleasurable

In 1960, I was volunteering with the local history group. We were at “The Rodgers House” in Watsonville, CA. At that time the Rodger family was living in it. Later it became a local museum. At the time I was there we were cataloging various historical items that were in the house. This is how I got to know Esther Steinbeck Rodgers. She was one of John Steinbeck’s sisters. While we were at the house, a truck with a camper on the back pulled into the driveway and out came John Steinbeck and his poodle, Charlie. This is how I met John Steinbeck (1902-1968). The truck and Charlie are on display at the Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA.

I first read this book in 1979. The book was published in 1962. I enjoyed rereading the book. I was surprised at how little of the book I remembered from my first reading. I remembered the French Canadians picking potatoes and I remembered his love of Montana. My mother was a big fan of Steinbeck and always encouraged me to read him. When I moved here to “Steinbeck Country”, I took my mother around to the various sites of Steinbeck’s books, etc. when she came to visit me. During this process I also became a fan of Steinbeck’s work.

The book, of course, is well written. It was fun to look back at the country and note how it has changed except for the racism. That, unfortunately, has not changed. I am glad I read this book again.

The book is almost eight hours. Gary Sinise does a great job narrating the book. Sinise is an award-winning actor and a popular audiobook narrator.

Telling view of America in the '60s

Steinbeck (for me) is truly the last, great American author. Steinbeck puts the Reader right in the passenger seat. He is filled with so many cogent insights & epitaphs about America . . . an America we find out hasn't changed all that much.

Must read for nomadic hearts

Loved every phrase. My housebound wanderlusting heart is a little eased by going on this audible journey.

There are now 4 of my favorite books written by John Steinbeck

Dated but insightful. Gorgeous prose with a thoughtful depth of thought provoking observations. Makes me wonder what would be written about America today. I don’t think it would be an appealing picture.

A Road Trip Worth Joining

Excellent thought provoking read. Humorous, richly detailed, delicious prose, and beautifully narrated. A road trip worth your daydream.