Chasing Charley

In 1960 Acclaimed American Author John Steinbeck (Grapes Of Wrath Of Mice And Men) Embarked On A Three-Month Road Trip Around The United States With His Wife’S Gentleman Poodle Charley In Tow. Steinbeck’S Aim Was To Rediscover The Country He Had Last Roamed As A Young Man. Ultimately The Journey Would Be As Much About Self-Discovery. The Resulting Book Travels With Charley Was A Bestseller And Is Now Counted Among The Classic American Road Novels. In 2003 Writer Mike Lauterborn Set Off By Van To Follow Steinbeck’S Path To Both Learn About The Author And See How America And Americans Had Changed In The Intervening Forty-Plus Years. Along The Way He Hoped To Find Some Of The People And Places Steinbeck Had Encountered While Taking In New Sights And Experiences. Travels With Charley Aided Lauterborn During The Planning Stages Of His Own Trip And Prepared Him For Hardships Steinbeck Had Also Faced Including Vehicle Troubles Adverse Weather Solitude And Health Woes. The Author’S Words Would Inspire Console And Haunt The Young Writer. Ultimately The Trail Would Lead Lauterborn To Some Of America’S Most Enduring Landmarks From Broad Rivers Rugged Coastlines And Azure-Blue Volcanic Lakes To Barren Deserts Quaint Small Towns And Sprawling Cities. He Met People From All Walks Of Life And Was Struck By Their Common Resilience Work Ethic And Patriotism. In The End However He Was Most Impressed By The Formidable Scope Of The Journey The Ailing Steinbeck Had Undertaken. This Book Is A Tribute To The Author’S Tireless Pursuit Of The Noble Quest.