John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) was one of the most important American writers of the 20th century. Born in Salinas, California, the setting for many of his greatest works, Steinbeck is known for his realistic and compassionate portrayals of the working class and the marginalized people of the Great Depression era. His writing is deeply rooted in the American landscape, often focusing on themes of social injustice, the dignity of labor, and the failure of the American Dream.

Steinbeck's masterful use of realistic dialogue and vivid characterization made his books immensely popular, though often controversial. His best-known novels include The Grapes of Wrath (1939), which won the Pulitzer Prize, East of Eden (1952), and Of Mice and Men (1937). He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962 for his "realistic and imaginative writings, combining... sympathetic humor and keen social perception." His legacy endures as a voice for the dispossessed and a chronicler of the American spirit.