Creeative Fiction Fabrications

Isn't it amazing that there are always those lurking in the shadows eager to discover naughty little items about people who preceded them, famous for their intellectual and creative output. John Steinbeck wrote some very impressive social commentary of his time in his novels documenting American social life.

He was celebrated as the author of The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, his two most important novels, both of which expressed the creative artistry of a man with a social conscience and the ability to deftly portray what he recognized as social and human misdemeanors impinging on the human rights of people whom society wronged.

His creative artistry was celebrated at the time, and he remains a legend as a writer of another era. What then, is the purpose of 'discovering' that this man indulged in gilding the lily when it suited him? In the interests of penning an interesting travelogue documenting his personal search for time and lapsed years, he took it upon himself to indulge his muse.

That another writer now seeks to throw a light of dishonest recounting of his experiences set out in his book Travels With Charley garners no one much of a useful revelation. John Steinbeck's choice to write as he did, recounting events that may or may not have occurred as he described them was reflective of his intention and his writing career.

It is nothing short of scholarly mischief for another writer, Bill Steigerwald, to hold John Steinbeck to a standard that Mr. Steigerwald feels the famous author should have embraced. If he had planned to do so, he most certainly would have. If the book detailing his travels with his dog contains scenarios that represent "creative fiction", then so be it.

Of such revelations are small minds obsessed.