John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was a famous American author who wrote from the 1920 to the 1940. Steinbeck was constantly moving across the country trying to succeed as a writer. John Steinbeck lived a life of constant up and downs, successes and failures before he landed on his feet and became a famous author.

John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California on February 27, 1902. He was the only son and the third child of John Ernst Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton. Steinbeck's father owned comfortable Victorian house in Salinas. John's father managed the Sperry Flour Mill. Things were pretty good for the Steinbeck, they were settled in a nice home they did not have to many financial problems, but then economic difficulties …show more content…

To add on to John's good luck streak one of his books The Pastures of Heaven was published in 1932. In 1933 To a God Unknown and two parts of The Red Pony were published. John finally seemed to be on his feet. In 1934 John won the O. Henry prize for his short story "The Murderer", but that prize came at a price. John's mother Olive Steinbeck died from paralysis. After grieving the lose of his mother, John had to continue on and trying and get over this one of many hurdles in his life.

Pascal Covici, who worked for McIntosh & Otis contracted John to publish Tortilla Flat threw his company. Tortilla Flat was published in 1935 and "was destined to become John's first commercial success and literary classic"(Ito, 33). The book was an immediate success for John, but once again there was a dark side to John's success, his father John Ernest Steinbeck died. "Steinbeck resolved that he would never abandon the pursuit of his own professional destiny as a writer"(Ito, 35).

"The success of Tortilla Flat had gained him national renown"(Pastori).

John had finally gotten the respect and recognition the he deserved. In 1937 Of Mice and Men was published and was chosen by the Book-of-the-Month club. Continuing with John's success The Grapes of Wraith was published in 1939. This book was and still is considered to be one of the best books written. John gained extreme fame from this novel. "This novel is still