John Steinbeck

Anderson — a formative influence — only met Steinbeck once, but liked him. Steinbeck toured the USSR with Capa, supported his friend Arthur Miller during witch-hunts in America, and had an idea to collaborate with Cage that came to nothing. He based a character on Ricketts, a lasting close friend and influential companion. He had supper in Moscow with Caldwell, and hung out in California with Chaplin and Jeffers. He insisted the little-known Albee accompany him on another USSR trip, initiating a lasting trusting friendship, and sparred with his friend Yevtushenko. Kazan felt he was out of place in New York.