John Steinbeck

            In 1902 John Steinbeck was born, in Salinas California. John grew up in the Monterey Bay region, and later used this region for many of his fiction novels. In 1920 Steinbeck left his home and went to Stanford University. John attended Stanford from 1920-1926, but failed to earn a degree. After Steinbeck left Stanford he went to New York City and wrote for the "American," but soon returned to California. (John Steinbeck 1902-1968) .
             In 1935 Steinbeck became widely known when he wrote, "Tortilla Flat", a series of humorous stories about Monterey paisanos(John Steinbeck). In 1936 Steinbeck wrote, "In Dubious Battle," this story dealt with the strikes of migratory fruit pickers on California plantations. Steinbeck's next novel, " Of Mice and Men," in 1937 became his first big success. Steinbeck followed " Of Mice and Men," with a series of short stories entitled " The Long Valley."(John Steinbeck).
             In 1939 Steinbeck published what was considered his best work, " The Grapes of Wrath." " The Grapes of Wrath," was the story of tenate farmers who moved to California, because they was unable to live off the land in Oklahoma. To get the idea for this novel Steinbeck had traveled around California migrant camps in 1936. After its publication " The Grapes of Wrath," received criticism from Oklahoma's State Representative Lyle Boren who said the novel was " a lie, a black, infernal creation of a twisted, distorted mind." (John Steinbeck, 1902-1968).
             In 1940, because of his success, Steinbeck went to Mexico to film the documentary, " Forgotten Village." In 1942 John Steinbeck moved to Great Britian where he was a was correspondent during WW2. While in Europe Steinbeck wrote "The Moon is Down," and " How Green Was My Valley." In 1943 Steinbeck moved back to New York, where he lived the rest of his life. After returning to America Steinbeck wrote many novels this included " The Pearl," "East of Eden," and " Travels with Charley in Search of America.