Download or read book Mad at the World A Life of John Steinbeck written by William Souder and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2020-10-13 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2020 in Nonfiction A resonant biography of America’s most celebrated novelist of the Great Depression. The first full-length biography of the Nobel laureate to appear in a quarter century, Mad at the World illuminates what has made the work of John Steinbeck an enduring part of the literary canon: his capacity for empathy. Pulitzer Prize finalist William Souder explores Steinbeck’s long apprenticeship as a writer struggling through the depths of the Great Depression, and his rise to greatness with masterpieces such as The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath. Angered by the plight of the Dust Bowl migrants who were starving even as they toiled to harvest California’s limitless bounty, fascinated by the guileless decency of the downtrodden denizens of Cannery Row, and appalled by the country’s refusal to recognize the humanity common to all of its citizens, Steinbeck took a stand against social injustice—paradoxically given his inherent misanthropy—setting him apart from the writers of the so-called "lost generation." A man by turns quick-tempered, compassionate, and ultimately brilliant, Steinbeck could be a difficult person to like. Obsessed with privacy, he was mistrustful of people. Next to writing, his favorite things were drinking and womanizing and getting married, which he did three times. And while he claimed indifference about success, his mid-career books and movie deals made him a lot of money—which passed through his hands as quickly as it came in. And yet Steinbeck also took aim at the corrosiveness of power, the perils of income inequality, and the urgency of ecological collapse, all of which drive public debate to this day. Steinbeck remains our great social realist novelist, the writer who gave the dispossessed and the disenfranchised a voice in American life and letters. Eloquent, nuanced, and deeply researched, Mad at the World captures the full measure of the man and his work.
Download or read book The Wide World of John Steinbeck written by Peter Lisca and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book John Steinbeck and the Critics written by John Ditsky and published by Camden House. This book was released on 2000 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This resource offers a fascinating survey of the changing fortunes of Steinbeck's critical reputation. (Criticism)
Download or read book The Moral Philosophy of John Steinbeck written by Stephen K. George and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than any other author of the Modern period of American literature, John Steinbeck evidenced a serious interest and background in moral philosophy. His personal reading collection included works ranging from Kant and Spinoza to Taoism and the Bible. Critics also consistently identify Steinbeck as an author whose work promotes serious moral reflection and whose characters undergo profound moral growth. Yet to date there has been no sustained examination of either John Steinbeck's personal moral philosophy or the ethical features and content of his major works. This critical neglect is remedied by a collection of highly readable essays exploring the philosophy and work of one of America's few Nobel Prize winning authors. These thirteen essays, written by experts both within philosophy and Steinbeck studies, examine almost all of Steinbeck's major works. Included in the compilation are five general essays examining Steinbeck's own moral philosophy and eight specific essays analyzing the ethics of various major works.
Download or read book Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1994-02-01 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A controversial tale of friendship and tragedy during the Great Depression A Penguin Classic Over seventy-five years since its first publication, Steinbeck’s tale of commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss remains one of America’s most widely read and taught novels. An unlikely pair, George and Lennie, two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression, grasp for their American Dream. They hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him. Of Mice and Men represents an experiment in form, which Steinbeck described as “a kind of playable novel, written in a novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands.” A rarity in American letters, it achieved remarkable success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films. This edition features an introduction by Susan Shillinglaw, one of today’s leading Steinbeck scholars. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Download or read book The Pearl written by John Steinbeck and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1994-10-01 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “There it lay, the great pearl, perfect as the moon.” A Penguin Classic One of Steinbeck’s most taught works, The Pearl is the story of the Mexican diver Kino, whose discovery of a magnificent pearl from the Gulf beds means the promise of a better life for his impoverished family. His dream blinds him to the greed and suspicions the pearl arouses in him and his neighbors, and even his loving wife Juana cannot temper his obsession or stem the events leading to tragedy. This classic novella from Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck examines the fallacy of the American dream, and illustrates the fall from innocence experienced by people who believe that wealth erases all problems. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by Linda Wagner-Martin and original illustrations by Mexican artist José Clemente Orozco. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Download or read book The Short Novels of John Steinbeck written by Jackson J. Benson and published by Duke University Press. This book was released on 1990 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection reviews what has been categorized as the 'good' and the 'bad' of Steinbeck's short novels, looking beyond the careless labeling that has characterized a great deal of commentary on Steinbeck's writing to the true strengths and weaknesses of the works.
Download or read book Critical Companion to John Steinbeck written by Jeffrey D. Schultz and published by Infobase Publishing. This book was released on 2005 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Celebrates the American writer who in his works confronted and explored the social fabric of the United States in the early 20th century. More than 500 entries include synopses of his novels, short stories, and nonfiction; descriptions of his characters, details about family, friends, and associates.
Download or read book Travels with Charley in Search of America written by John Steinbeck and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1997-04-01 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An intimate journey across America, as told by one of its most beloved writers A Penguin Classic In September 1960, John Steinbeck embarked on a journey across America. He felt that he might have lost touch with the country, with its speech, the smell of its grass and trees, its color and quality of light, the pulse of its people. To reassure himself, he set out on a voyage of rediscovery of the American identity, accompanied by a distinguished French poodle named Charley; and riding in a three-quarter-ton pickup truck named Rocinante. His course took him through almost forty states: northward from Long Island to Maine; through the Midwest to Chicago; onward by way of Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana (with which he fell in love), and Idaho to Seattle, south to San Francisco and his birthplace, Salinas; eastward through the Mojave, New Mexico, Arizona, to the vast hospitality of Texas, to New Orleans and a shocking drama of desegregation; finally, on the last leg, through Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to New York. Travels with Charley in Search of America is an intimate look at one of America's most beloved writers in the later years of his life—a self-portrait of a man who never wrote an explicit autobiography. Written during a time of upheaval and racial tension in the South—which Steinbeck witnessed firsthand—Travels with Charley is a stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decade. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction by Jay Parini. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Download or read book John Steinbeck written by Jay Parini and published by Random House (UK). This book was released on 1994 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: John Steinbeck was born in a small town in northern California in 1902, and his career mirrors the highs and lows of the 20th century. A difficult relationship with his parents, his turbulent married life and his often tempestuous friendships with celebrated writers, entertainers, intellectuals and politicians, all played their part in the creation of some of the century's greatest works of fiction.
Download or read book The Wide World of John Steinbeck written by Peter Lisca and published by . This book was released on 1938 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck s of Mice and Men written by Michael J. Meyer and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2009-04-23 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men has been a staple of American literature ever since. Divided by decade, The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men provides an overview of criticism over the 70 years the book has been in print. Michael J. Meyer has assembled significant articles and book excerpts from critics and reviewers, citing the early book reviews and highlighting some of the most significant essays. While not all critical studies are included, those assessments not present in the text are evaluated by summaries and their bibliographic citations are given. The essays express various critical approaches, including those that criticize the book and examine what some consider the book's flaws. Ideal for research work at all levels, this volume collects in one place the most significant contributions to the study of the novel, making it a welcome addition to the canon of Steinbeck criticism.
Download or read book The Grapes of Wrath written by John Steinbeck and published by . This book was released on 2023-06-16 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck that tells the story of the Joad family's journey from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. The novel highlights the struggles and hardships faced by migrant workers during this time, as well as the exploitation they faced at the hands of wealthy landowners. Steinbeck's writing style is raw and powerful, with vivid descriptions that bring the characters and their surroundings to life. The novel has been widely acclaimed for its social commentary and remains a classic in American literature. Despite being published over 80 years ago, the novel still resonates with readers today, serving as a reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion towards those who are less fortunate.
Download or read book Beyond Boundaries written by Susan Shillinglaw and published by University of Alabama Press. This book was released on 2002-08-21 with total page 375 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Documents life among the Kayapo Indians of central Brazil, a fiercely independent tribe, who were forced to become "businessmen" or see their traditional way of life destroyed.
Download or read book John Steinbeck written by Harold Bloom and published by Infobase Publishing. This book was released on 2003 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the life and work of twentieth-century American author John Steinbeck, featuring a biographical profile, critical analysis of the themes, symbols, and ideas in his writing, a selection of critical essays, a chronology, and references.
Download or read book A John Steinbeck Encyclopedia written by Brian Railsback and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2006-09-30 with total page 545 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the greatest novelists of the 20th century, John Steinbeck continues to be read and studied at all levels. This encyclopedia extensively overviews his life and writings. Included are roughly 1200 alphabetically arranged entries by more than 40 expert contributors. Entries cover his works, major characters, family members and contemporaries, influences, and various special topics related to his literary career. Many of the entries cite works for further reading, and the encyclopedia closes with a selected, general bibliography. Known for his searing social criticism, John Steinbeck is one of the most popular and influential American writers of the 20th century. His works are read and studied at all levels and have been made into films. And though critics and scholars initially found fault with his enormously popular works, he is now widely recognizes as a master of his craft. This encyclopedia provides an extensive overview of his life and career and is accessible to high school students, undergraduates, and general readers. Presented are roughly 1200 alphabetically arranged entries by more than 40 expert contributors. These entries cover his works, major characters, family members and contemporaries, influences, and a range of special topics.
Download or read book John Steinbeck s Global Dimensions written by Kyoko Ariki and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though a highly regarded American writer, John Steinbeck's appeal and influence extend far beyond North American borders. In John Steinbeck's Global Dimensions, editors Kyoko Ariki, Luchen Li, and Scott Pugh have assembled some of the best in current critical analysis of the Nobel Prize-winner's work. A compilation of papers by scholars from the U.S., Japan, China, Korea, India, and Slovenia, this work provides a window into the critical reception of Steinbeck's works around the globe. In doing so, this volume incorporates diverse approaches, including cultural studies, film analysis, gender studies, and--most especially--comparative studies of sociopolitical, philosophical, and religious motifs in Steinbeck's fiction. This collection includes four parts, each considering a broad dimension of Steinbeck's work. The cultural and social dimensions of his fiction are considered with essays by prominent scholars on moral philosophy, dysfunctional families, Ayn Rand's possible influence, and other topics. The second section focuses on aesthetic dimensions, including considerations of Steinbeck's theatrical vision and postmodern aspects of his work. The third section considers reader reception issues and--in particular--surveys Islamic, Buddhist, and Indian philosophy echoed in the author's works. The final section of the book is an essay considering the global possibilities for future Steinbeck studies. A convenient casebook of the latest in Steinbeck studies, this volume documents the breadth of current international interest in his fiction, his films, and his philosophy. The included essays are particularly useful for showing critical readings from various cultural standpoints, readings that often stand in sharp, interesting contrast to each other. Overall, this collection of essays gives an unmatched sense of how John Steinbeck's work continues to reach readers and scholars around the world.
