LA writer finds Steinbeck manuscripts

AP ^ | 5/4/07 | AP

[El Sordo]

LOS ANGELES - A handwritten draft of John Steinbeck's novel "Sweet Thursday," along with an unpublished story and other works, will be auctioned by a writer who says they were sitting in a closet for 50 years.

"This stuff was unbelievable — just laying in a box," said Joel Eisenberg. "I had this `Aha!' moment when I realized not only what I had here, but what I had the responsibility to do."

He said the material belonged to a friend, the late theater producer Ernest H. Martin. Martin's widow asked Eisenberg in 2004 to sort through a box that had been sitting in her Hollywood Hills closet.

Eisenberg found a 188-page manuscript of "Sweet Thursday," the sequel to Steinbeck's famous "Cannery Row"; a manuscript from another book, "The Log from the Sea of Cortez"; an unpublished story, "If This Be Treason," set during the McCarthy era; the unfinished draft of a musical comedy called "The Bear Flag Cafe" and carbon copies of 13 Steinbeck letters from 1953.

The collection will be auctioned May 24 in San Francisco in two lots. The auction could generate more than $500,000.

"How many times in your life can you touch history, help preserve history? I truly feel ... I made a difference in saving important literature," Eisenberg told the Daily News of Los Angeles.

[El Sordo]

Innerestin'

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"I had this `Aha!' moment when I realized not only what I had here, but what I had the responsibility to do."

Sell it to the highest bidder?

Don't get me wrong, that is a perfectly fine thing to do, but he acts like he's doing something out of the ordinary.

[El Sordo]

Lookie here!

[El Sordo]

I figure the guy’s just giddy about having a role in this.

[InsensitiveConservative]

Wouldn’t it be up to Martin’s widow to decide what to do with it?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

From the story it sure seems like it should be, if she’s still around. I presume that she gave him authority and that any proceeds would go to her.

[SunkenCiv]

an unpublished story, "If This Be Treason," set during the McCarthy era

Gosh, I wonder which one of these Steinbeck works will be of interest to publishers?

[IronJack]

I think Sweet Thursday was the first Steinbeck book I ever read. It didn't make much sense without Cannery Row for background, but I loved the style immediately. Travels with Charley is still my favorite though.