John Steinbeck © 1954 Yousuf Karsh
Hard news from three different sources suggests the year ahead will be a busy one for followers, fans, heirs, and collectors of John Steinbeck. Steinbeck at Stanford is the subject of a special January 30 library event at Stanford University (sold-out as of this writing) that includes a lecture by Stanford professor Gavin Jones and an exhibit of items from Stanford’s substantial collection of Steinbeck editions, manuscripts, and memorabilia. Hard on the heels of October’s sale of manuscripts and personal possessions from the estate of Steinbeck’s widow Elaine, by an auction house in San Francisco, New Jersey’s Curated Estates auction service has announced the sale of items—including Steinbeck’s baby hair and confirmation certificate—timed to end on February 27, the author’s birthday. As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, attorneys for the widow of Steinbeck’s son Thom are taking their case for reassigning the movie rights to Steinbeck’s books all the way to the Supreme Court, assuming the high court finds time for issues beyond impeachment and tax returns in the busy year ahead.
