Famed Pet. Charley was the great American author John Steinbeck's French Poodle, born and raised in a Paris suburb, who knew "a little poodle-english," but who responded "only to commands in French." The full name of this 'blue' Standard Poodle was Charles le Chien, and he and Steinback made an enviable pair traveling about the country in a pickup-camper named Rocinante after Don Quixote's horse. In the fall of 1960, the illustrious John Steinbeck (2/27/1902-12/20/1968) set off across the United States to rediscover America on a sort of mid-life crisis road trip. His sole companion and comrade was Charles le Chien, a.k.a. Charley, whom Steinbeck referred to as his ambassador who was a great ice-breaker helping ease communication with those met on their journey. Sharing the cab of the three-quarter ton pickup truck which had been saddled with a camper top for all the comforts of home, the duo trekked from coast to coast, east to west, and back; 10,000 plus miles, 34 states, and three months on the open road. Month's later, he recorded their journey in the near classic book, "Travels with Charley: In Search of America," for which Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for literature.
Famed Pet. Charley was the great American author John Steinbeck's French Poodle, born and raised in a Paris suburb, who knew "a little poodle-english," but who responded "only to commands in French." The full name of this 'blue' Standard Poodle was Charles le Chien, and he and Steinback made an enviable pair traveling about the country in a pickup-camper named Rocinante after Don Quixote's horse. In the fall of 1960, the illustrious John Steinbeck (2/27/1902-12/20/1968) set off across the United States to rediscover America on a sort of mid-life crisis road trip. His sole companion and comrade was Charles le Chien, a.k.a. Charley, whom Steinbeck referred to as his ambassador who was a great ice-breaker helping ease communication with those met on their journey. Sharing the cab of the three-quarter ton pickup truck which had been saddled with a camper top for all the comforts of home, the duo trekked from coast to coast, east to west, and back; 10,000 plus miles, 34 states, and three months on the open road. Month's later, he recorded their journey in the near classic book, "Travels with Charley: In Search of America," for which Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for literature.
Bio by: Paul Theodore Riegert
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