John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. He was married three times and had one son. In 1962, Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Among his most famous novels are The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden and Tortilla Flats. John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968.

I have a confession to make. When I was in high school I spent more time in the public library than actually in school. I did not get on well at high school and took solace in books. One year I must have gone to the library at least once a week to hide out instead of being in school where my parents expected me to be. I started reading through the novels of John Steinbeck. I just got lost in the magnificence of his writing, his great characterizations, and descriptive verse that made me think I was there in California, or Oklahoma. Reading Steinbeck made me feel I did have a place in the world.

Of all his novels, I still like East of Eden best. It is a book I can read again and again. And after I eventually saw the movie with James Dean I became an even bigger fan of the novel.

If you haven’t read Steinbeck, I recommend you pick up one of his books promptly. You will not be disappointed.

East of Eden 11×17 Mini Movie Poster

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