in watching the terrific dvd commentary to Grapes of Wrath, we learn that Ford was familiar with an Irish writer, Flannagan(sp?), and that part of the opening sequence of grapes of wrath,of Tom and Casey, contains a reference to something in flannagan's book.

I hear that Ford attended univ of maine briefly before going to hollywood. does anyone know if he was a reader;was he well-read? and BTW, if you know of other directors, any culture or time period, who were/are well-read, I'd be interested! thank you.