Discover the Intriguing World of John Steinbeck: Top 8 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Dog Eats "Of Mice and Men" Manuscript

You know the phrase, "my dog ate my homework"? Well, John Steinbeck lived it on a whole other level when his furry friend dabbled in canine literary criticism: Steinbeck's dog, Toby, devoured half of the original manuscript for "Of Mice and Men," forcing the author to rewrite the entire book. Far from holding a grudge, Steinbeck even dubbed Toby the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of literature, and might have found a muse for his future travelogue about his poodle Charley.
Source => lithub.com

2. Steinbeck and Marine Biologist BFFs

Like a fish out of water finding its best pal at the bottom of the sea: John Steinbeck, the great American author, forged an unlikely yet strong bond with marine biologist Ed Ricketts, leading them to co-author a book called "Sea of Cortez." However, their dynamic duo came to an end after Steinbeck's relocation and divorce from his wife Carol.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know the infamous Zodiac Killer may have been inspired by a 1932 movie adaptation of a short story? Discover the chilling connection and how it played a role in one of his tragic attacks.

=> Fun Facts about Literature

3. Inspiration behind Cannery Row

In the days when sardines ran the streets and the residents were all a bit "canned": John Steinbeck's 1945 masterpiece Cannery Row was inspired by Monterey's bustling Ocean View Boulevard, where a thriving fishing industry filled the area with canneries and processing plants during the early 1900s, and his marine biologist buddy Ed Ricketts helped shape the novel's iconic characters and settings, such as Doc's Lab.
Source => canneryrow.com

4. "The Grapes of Wrath" Almost Had a Different Title

In a grape-inspired stroke of genius that would have made Dionysus proud: John Steinbeck's classic novel "The Grapes of Wrath" was almost baptized "Something That Happened" until his wife Carol, playing muse, plucked the perfect title from the vine of Julia Ward Howe's "Battle-Hymn of the Republic."
Source => arts.gov

5. Steinbeck's Son, the War Journalist and Buddhist

As the saying goes, the nut doesn't fall far from the tree, but sometimes it takes a detour through a war-torn jungle and meditates with a monk on an exotic island: John Steinbeck IV, son of famed author John Steinbeck, served during the Vietnam War as a journalist for Armed Forces Radio and TV, as well as a war correspondent for the Department of Defense. Not only did he expose the My Lai Massacre and Con Son Island prison "tiger cages" after founding the Dispatch News Service with Sean Flynn, but he went full Zen-mode and embraced Buddhism while learning from the Coconut Monk on Phoenix Island.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Obsession with Yellow Legal Pads

Much like a kleptomaniac lawyer with an obsession for yellow, John Steinbeck couldn't resist the allure of yellow legal pads: Steinbeck began each day equipped with a stack of yellow legal pads and freshly sharpened pencils, methodically filling the pages and filing them as part of his unique creative process. The significance of the legal pads led Blackwing pencils to create their own version, dubbed as the (Il)Legal Pad – complete with high-quality ivory paper, sewn-bound pages, and three paper types.
Source => blog.blackwing602.com

7. Visit Steinbeck's Childhood Home

In a twist of fate that could make realtors and aspiring novelists alike weep with joy, the charming childhood abode that spurned the literary genius of the man who put the "GRAPE" in "The Grapes of Wrath" still stands: Today, you can tour John Steinbeck's original red Victorian-style house in Salinas, California, which served as the inspiration for his novel East of Eden, and learn about his early life and family within its beautifully restored walls.
Source => secondarystrategies.com

8. Vera Zorina's Two Marriages

Once upon a pas de deux and an "I do": Vera Zorina, the Norwegian ballerina and film actress who pirouetted into matrimony not once but twice, first tied the knot with famous choreographer George Balanchine, collaborating on productions like On Your Toes and The Goldwyn Follies, but later remixed her love life by marrying Goddard Lieberson, the president of Columbia Records, producing their very own chart-toppers – two sons named Peter and Jonathan Lieberson.
Source => en.wikipedia.org