Easton Press: JOHN STEINBECK: EAST OF EDEN: SALINAS, CALIFORNIA: BROTHEL

Description: Easton Press leather edition of John Steinbeck's "East of Eden," Illustrated with Frontispiece painting, a COLLECTOR'S edition, published in 1988. Bound in hunter green leather, the book has camel tan moire silk end leaves, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition---except for a 'blank' attached bookplate on second page, an impressed book press on title page and a 'tiny' tear on top of title page. [See photo.] John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr., who lived from 1902 – 1968, was reared in SALINAS, California and attended STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Set primarily in the Salinas Valley of California, "East of Eden" is somewhat based on the real-life Hamilton family. The first fourteen chapters are set in Connecticut and Massachusetts between the beginning of the twentieth century and the end of World War I. In the late 1890s ADAM TRASK married CATHY AMES, a beautiful but viciously evil former prostitute and moved to California. With inherited wealth from his late father Adam bought land and settled with his pregnant wife. Without Adam's knowledge, Cathy tried to abort the babies with a knitting needle. Cathy was unhappy in California and informed her husband that she planned to leave. Cathy gave birth to the two boys but hated her situation; she shot Adam when he tried to prevent her from leaving. He and a Chinese-American servant LEE raise the two boys, AARON and CALEB, named for biblical characters. Cathy became a prostitute in the most respectful brothel in Salinas. She renamed herself KATE ABBEY and after ingratiating herself with the madam, murdered her, and inherited the business. She made her new brothel infamous as a den of sexual sadism and a source of blackmail on the rich and powerful. Adam's sons grew up unaware of their mother's situation. Aron, a naive, open-hearted and religious young man was virtuous and dutiful but Caleb was wild and rebellious. Aron fell in love with a girl from a well-to-do family. Ultimately Cal learned the truth about his mother and to spite his father, took his brother to meet their mother. Caleb was guilt-ridden by the sequence of events he sets in motion. Kate committed suicide, bequeathing her wealth to Aron---but the novel does not "end happily ever after." "East of Eden" is often considered Steinbeck's finest novel. Steinbeck was awarded the 1962 NOBEL PRIZE in LITERATURE. 603 pages. I offer combined shipping.

Price: 139.95 USD

Location: Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

End Time: 2024-11-25T00:05:24.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8 USD