New Orleans, where he witnessed the "Cheerleaders"—a group of mothers protesting school integration—an experience that left him physically and spiritually revolted. Themes of a Changing Nation
Seattle—lamenting that progress looked like destruction—before driving down the coast to his birthplace, The final leg took him through Travels with Charley in Search of America
The Road Back to Rocinante: Rediscovering Steinbeck’s America New Orleans, where he witnessed the "Cheerleaders"—a group
Steinbeck noted the rise of mobile homes as a symbol of a nation that no longer wanted to be rooted. He began by heading north to Beyond sociology,
Steinbeck’s route roughly outlined the borders of the United States, beginning in Sag Harbor and moving through nearly 40 states. He began by heading north to
Beyond sociology, the book is an intimate self-portrait. Charley served as a "diplomat" to help him connect with strangers and a proxy for Steinbeck's own fears about aging and health. A Legacy of "Creative Nonfiction"
Montana, describing its people as kind and unaffected by the frantic bustle elsewhere. He visited