John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath - (Greenwood Guides to Fiction) by Barbara Heavilin (Hardcover)

About the Book

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is one of the most widely read American novels. Much has been written about the book, yet a number of recent critics have challenged its merits and questioned its place in the canon. The novel was published near the end of the Great Depression, yet its issues remain provocative and current, generating considerable critical debate. For all the novel's apparent simplicity, its deeper levels are often difficult to grasp, requiring distinct participatory demands on its readers. This reference is a comprehensive introduction to Steinbeck's masterpiece.

An overview of Steinbeck's family life, reading, and personal experiences draws heavily on his letters and journals, illuminating his intentions. A detailed plot summary follows, along with an examination of the novel's genesis. The immediate social, cultural, and historical contexts surrounding the work, including the Dust Bowl, the Okie migration, and the Great Depression, are examined. The novel's major themes and ideas are considered, followed by a revealing analysis of Steinbeck's narrative art. The guide closes with a survey of the novel's critical reception and a bibliographical essay.

Book Synopsis

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is one of the most widely read American novels. Much has been written about the book, yet a number of recent critics have challenged its merits and questioned its place in the canon. The novel was published near the end of the Great Depression, yet its issues remain provocative and current, generating considerable critical debate. For all the novel's apparent simplicity, its deeper levels are often difficult to grasp, requiring distinct participatory demands on its readers. This reference is a comprehensive introduction to Steinbeck's masterpiece.

An overview of Steinbeck's family life, reading, and personal experiences draws heavily on his letters and journals, illuminating his intentions. A detailed plot summary follows, along with an examination of the novel's genesis. The immediate social, cultural, and historical contexts surrounding the work, including the Dust Bowl, the Okie migration, and the Great Depression, are examined. The novel's major themes and ideas are considered, followed by a revealing analysis of Steinbeck's narrative art. The guide closes with a survey of the novel's critical reception and a bibliographical essay.

Review Quotes

"Without question, Heavilin's book offers a wealth of information and is the most valuable asset to the study of Steinbeck and The Grapes. Steinbeck and The Grapes of Wrath may be physically and culturally far from Japan, but Heavilin's thought-provoking book, with her new analysis, tells us that this great American classic can and must be shared by many more people irrespective of the race, culture, and time and place. I highly recommend her book as one of the very rare and valued assets to the study of Steinbeck by Japanese readers."-Hiromasa Takamura Professor of English Ohtani Women's University

About the Author

BARBARA A. HEAVILIN is Associate Professor of English at Taylor University. Her previous books include The Critical Response to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (Greenwood, 2000).