Literary buffs might want to bookmark this Upper East Side listing. Once upon a time, this 34th-floor pad was home to Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck. The Grapes of Wrath author lived in his 2,200-square-foot apartment during the final five years of his life, before passing in 1968 at age 66.
His third wife Elaine lived here until her death in 2003, prompting an estate feud among Steinbeck’s heirs. This battle delayed the sale of the Manhattan address until 2009. After a renovation that merged the apartment with a unit next door, the enlarged residence then changed hands again in 2020.
Spanning 4,100 square feet now, the home totals six bedrooms and six bathrooms. Upon entering, a sun-soaked great room invites visitors inside. Encouraging an appreciation of beauty and of New York City’s iconic cityscape, the residence boasts views in three directions, including sightings of Central Park, Columbus Circle, and the skyscrapers of Midtown.
The airy primary suite looks over the park and has its own wet bar. Another notable feature includes a private office, where Steinbeck wrote, with views of the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building.
Steinbeck’s real estate trail has received plenty of buzz lately. Earlier this year, a local Hamptons not-for-profit purchased Steinbeck’s Sag Harbor retreat for $13.5 million. Now, “The Steinbeck House ” is open to the public for visits and writers’ retreats.
Back in the Big Apple, Nicole Hechter, Asaf Bar-Lev, and Jamie Gorman at The Corcoran Group hold the 72nd Street listing priced at $2,995,000.