Even before he finished their first drafts, John Steinbeck's novels were steeped in his journals and other writing, including letters excerpted by Maria Popova: "In January of 1951, as he was setting out to write East of Eden — a book he considered the most difficult he ever attempted, the ultimate test of his talent and discipline as a writer — Steinbeck decided to loosen his creative ligaments by writing a daily 'letter' to his dear friend and editor, Pascal Covici."
April 10, 2016
