[Discusses the burdensome quantity of mail, receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature, finances, lifestyle, the difficulty of giving things away, dogs, the blacks' fight for civil rights and a childhood trip to Big Basin ; briefly discusses aftermath of eye surgery, the demands of writing, upcoming travel for the State Department , Robert Frost , Charley's grave, Gilfry's poems, Sea of Cortez and his boys [ Thom Steinbeck and John Steinbeck IV ]; mentions New York City , Europe , Air Forces Aid Society , a book [ Bombs Away ], England , Santa Cruz County, California and [ Elworthy W. Somerset Word-book ]; includes a note in another hand regarding Yale Review article on verso of envelops and "Answered August 19" on face.]

[Discusses the break-up of John Steinbeck 's marriage to Carol Henning Steinbeck as background information for a set of letters Flemming has bought from her, a trip to California , Carol's trip to Hawaii , Gwyndolyn Conger , unfounded claims of pregnancy by both Carol and Gwen, and Carol's moving to New York City ; mentions George [Rippey] Stewart , [ McIntosh and Otis Literary Agency ], Los Angeles and San Francisco . ]

[Discusses marital problems, his telling Carol Henning Steinbeck of his involvement with [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], Carol's unwillingness to give him up, claims of pregnancy by Carol and Gwen, his decision to stay with Carol, selling the ranch, buying a house in Pacific Grove , a near breakdown and his work suffering; mentions Elizabeth [R. Otis.]

[Discusses his separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , Carol's going to New York City , Carol's need for McIntosh's support, financial support for Carol and his breakdown; mentions [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], [ Pascal Covici . ]

[Discusses his separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , marital incompatibilities, Carol's going to New York City , [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], [Webster F.] "Toby" Street 's financial recommendations, Carol's need for moral support from McIntosh, his breakdown, push for second draft typescript [of Sea Of Cortez ], Carol's watch and Gwen's losing her baby.]

[Discusses his separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , financial settlement being handled by [Webster F.] "Toby" Street , letters from Carol, his health, work on [ Sea of Cortez ], a visit from Carol's father, Carol's mother's feelings towards him, [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], receipt of two letters, one from [ Pascal Covici ] and [ Antonia Seixas Jackson ]; mentions Elizabeth [R. Otis] and Annie Laurie [Williams ].]

[Discusses his work [ Sea of Cortez ] as his survival [following his separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck ]; [ Antonia Seixas Jackson ] beginning the typescript sale of a car and pictures for Sea of Cortez ; mentions Carol Henning Steinbeck . ]

[Discusses work with [ Antonia Sexias Jackson ] on [ Sea of Cortez ], his separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck his health, [Webster F.] "Toby" Street 's handling the financial settlement and limited social contacts; mentions [ Pascal Covici ], Ritch[ie Lovejoy] , [Natalya Lovejoy] , Ed[ward Flanders Ricketts] and Elizabeth [R. Otis] . ]

[Discusses separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , [ Pascal Covici 's ] handling of [ Sea of Cortez ], the Mexican book [ The Forgotten Village ], financial settlement, [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], [Webster F.] "Toby" Street and Ed[ward Flanders Ricketts]

[Discusses [ Pascal Covici 's ] handling of [ Sea of Cortez ], separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , Elizabeth [R. Otis] , The Red Pony contract with [Lewis] Milestone , the [ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ] deal, his dislike for Hollywood , her and Carol's feelings about [ Sea of Cortez ], his health, [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], The Viking Press and [ Annie Laurel Williams ]; mentions Nuland's father, Stanford University Press , Gone with the Wind , [John] Ford and Donn Byrne . ]

[Discusses [ Sea of Cortez ], separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , his philosophy of life, the ranch, the [ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ] deal falling through, his health, [" God in the Pipes "] and his father [ John Ernst Steinbeck ]; mentions Maine , Carol's father, [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], Elizabeth [R. Otis] , [ Pascal Covici ] and Zarathustra . ]

[Discusses financial settlement with Carol Henning Steinbeck , the contrast between life with Carol and life with [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], [ Elizabeth Steinbeck Ainsworth ], Ed[ward Ricketts, Jr.] , [Webster F.] "Toby" Street , the ranch, the [Lewis] Milestone contract [ The Red Pony ] and an [ Associated Press ] rumor report; mentions Ed[ward Flanders Ricketts] . ]

[Discusses a newspaper article about his and Carol Henning Steinbeck 's private life; [ Pascal Covici 's ] handling of [ Sea of Cortez ], upcoming work, separation from Carol, his health, the ranch, [" God in the Pipes "], The Red Pony script with [ Lewis Milestone ] and a letter from Carol's sister [ Idell Henning ]; mentions Los Angeles , San Francisco , Stanford University Press and The Viking Press . ]

[Discusses his relationship with [ Gwyndolyn Conger ], separation from Carol Henning Steinbeck , his having been a nuisance to [ McIntosh and Otis Literary Agency ], a letter from [ Idell Henning ], [ Sea of Cortez ] and work with [Lewis] Milestone on The Red Pony , [" God in the Pipes "]; mentions The Viking Press and Elizabeth [R. Otis] . ]