A View From the Stands of People, Politics, Military Power and the Arts.

GALBRAITH, John Kenneth.

$650.00

Item Number: 128099

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986.

First edition of Galbraith’s retrospective collection. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication to Elaine Steinbeck, “For Elaine with love… John G – 1986.” From the library of Elaine Steinbeck. Galbraith and John Steinbeck met in the early 1950s while on a holiday on St. John in the Virgin Islands. They enjoyed talking and both liked to have a drink at the end of the day, which Steinbeck referred to as “Milking Time” and Galbraith called “The Liberal Hour.” While the content of this book has nothing to do with alcohol consumption, this is clearly where he received inspiration for its title. Steinbeck and Galbraith continued to be friends after their initial meeting, occasionally seeing each other in person and writing letters (Steinbeck has been called one of the last great letter writers). Although known for being an economist, Galbraith had a background in agriculture, majoring in animal husbandry and received his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in agricultural economics from the University of California, Berkeley, so he was well acquainted with the issues that were brought to light in Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath. He and Steinbeck were both passionate about politics and worked together on Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign. The Steinbecks attended JFK’s inauguration with the Galbraiths, and their discussions regarding JFK’s inauguration speech were recorded on video as part of Robert Drew’s documentary for ABC Close-up show called “Adventures on the New Frontier.” Galbraith’s works influenced many of Steinbeck’s later books, including Travels with Charley, America and Americans, and The Winter of our Discontent. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Sanjay Kothari.

Few individuals have participated so intimately and so diversely in the cultural and political life of both the nation and world throughout the late 20th century as John Kenneth Galbraith. An economist by training and profession, he came first to public attention - and controversy - when as price czar he led in the creation of the economic structure that held the economy stable through the vast expansion of output in World War II. In ensuing years as an author and journalist of widely varied interests, he became one of the most respected figures of all time. This book is a treasure trove culled from his papers, a cavalcade of comment, some of it deeply personal, on world affairs, domestic politics, and literary matters extending from the end of the depression years to yesteryear.