Pinching the melon

A humorous letter from Nobel Prize-winning novelist John Steinbeck to newspaper columnist Leonard Lyons, written in 1965, in which the The Grapes of Wrath author jokes about his wife's reaction to his flirting with other women.

Transcript follows.

Source

Transcript

25 April 65

Dear Lenny -

Miss G. L. sent prints and they are very good. I am enclosing one for you in return for pimping. The blown-up two shot Elaine is having framed for our hall in Sag which has such marvels as Gadge Kazan as an actor, John O'Hara smiling and Bob Capa writing. These are many of her improbables. Elaine says that when I stop looking at pretty girls what will there be for her. She does, however, take a dim view of pinching the melon.

I am house bound rewriting my new book and soon we will move out to Sag where I can really get to work.

I am enclosing a letter to Miss G. I don't know where to reach her but I know you will.

Many thanks

yours

John