John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California, a farming community with of about 2500 people. He was the third of four children and the only son of John Ernst and Olive Hamiton Steinbeck. His sisters Beth and Esther were much older than John and he felt closest to Mary, the youngest. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the Salinas Valley, which he later called “the salad bowl of the nation.” John’s mother, …

…his observation, his enjoyment of life, and his belief in human goodness. Several of his works are now considered classics. His books differ in content and in form, “Of Mice and Men” is similar to a play and “The Sea of Cortez” is a scientific account. But Steinbeck wrote all of his books with a particular goal in mind. As he explained, “My whole work drive as been aimed at making people understand each other.”