John Steinbeck

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Born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California, John Ernst Steinbeck is one of the world’s most popular authors. Steinbeck’s American classics depict portraits of the conditions of human life, struggles and triumphs. He is commonly known for his novels The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and novella Of Mice and Men. “He was an intellectual, passionately interested in his odd little inventions, in jazz, in politics, in philosophy, history, and myth” (“John Steinbeck, American Writer”). John Steinbeck experienced several struggles and rejections in order to be successful and have his books published the way he wanted them to. Steinbeck experienced an interesting life full of stories, controversy, adventure, love, and loss. John Ernst Steinbeck was as the son of John Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton Steinbeck. Steinbeck lived a happy childhood with a younger sister, Mary, and two older sisters, Beth and Esther. His parents were not exceedingly successful. His mother was previously a teacher, while Steinbeck’s father held several different jobs, including: the manager of a flour plant, the owner of a feed and grain store, and the treasurer of the county. As a young boy, Steinbeck formed a great appreciation for the land in the Salinas Valley and the Pacific Coast. The Salinas Valley and his homeland came to be the setting of many of his novels and stories. (Shillinglaw). Steinbeck’s mother was a former teacher and inspired his love for literature. The book Le Morte d'Arthur, by Sir Thomas Malory, was Steinbeck’s favorite book as a boy and a big influence on his writing (“John Steinbeck Biography”). John Steinbeck decided to be a writer at age fourteen and he spent his teenager years writing various poems and stories (Shil... ... middle of paper ... ...tal of more than 700,000 copies a year” (“John Ernst Steinbeck’s Biography”). Steinbeck’s novels will continue to be taught in schools and read throughout homes for years to come. Works Cited "Biography for John Steinbeck." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2013. "Biography of John Steinbeck." GradeSaver. GradeSaver LLC., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. "John Ernst Steinbeck's Biography" Oprah.com. Oprah, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. "John Steinbeck - Biography on Bio." The Biography Channel. AETN UK, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. "John Steinbeck Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Advameg, Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. "John Steinbeck Timeline." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2013. Shillinglaw, Susan, Dr. "John Steinbeck, An American Writer." The Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies. San Jose State University, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.

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