Carbon copy of a typed letter : [New York], to John Steinbeck, 1938 Oct. 14.

Discussing at length his work on "Ecce Homo!" and with the government, and his collaborative work with Steinbeck on "In Dubious Battle," noting that as he cannot work on it now he has "no right" to it in the future, should another offer come along. Hoping to hire Steinbeck as consultant when he finishes work on his book "and when [he feels] inclined to work." Praising ["The Grapes of Wrath"] throughout, noting: "Your book keeps haunting me and I remember the great beauty and simple power of it time after time" (p. 1) and "you are writing what I think is the most beautiful book we will have had in this country in my time." (p. 5) Thanking Steinbeck for two boxes of wine, insisting that he was too generous and that Lroentz is therefore enclosing a check (not extant) for Steinbeck to make out.