Long Island

The tip of Long Island is Steinbeck's home. He has a house by the shore, thirty feet above sea level, and lives there with his wife. They weather Hurricane Donna together just before Steinbeck leaves on his journey.

New York City

Steinbeck knows New York City as a center of literature and other arts. His wife goes to the city when Steinbeck leaves on his trip. Steinbeck becomes lost in the city upon his return, and a kindly policeman directs the author home.

Bangor

Steinbeck takes his first motel in Bangor, Maine. The place seems made entirely out of plastic, including the restaurant. The waitress there has a knack of sucking the joy out of life.

Deer Isle

Steinbeck visits Deer Isle upon the insistence of a colleague. The place reminds the author of an English coastal region, from the climate to the people and architecture...