Steinbeck’s tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society, dependant on one another for both physical and emotional survivalA Penguin Classic Published in 1945, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as it is: both the exuberance of community and the loneliness of the individual. Drawing on his memories of the real inhabitants of Monterey, California, including longtime … Monterey, California, including longtime friend Ed Ricketts, Steinbeck interweaves the stories of Doc, Dora, Mack and his boys, Lee Chong, and the other characters in this world where only the fittest survive, to create a novel that is at once one of his most humorous and poignant works. In her introduction, Susan Shillinglaw shows how the novel expresses, both in style and theme, much that is essentially Steinbeck: “Scientific detachment, empathy toward the lonely and depressed . . . and, at the darkest level . . . the terror of isolation and nothingness.”
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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This is a classic for a good reason. Steinbeck creates a wonderful world in Cannery Row that seems so realistic in its characters that you sometimes wonder if it is actually a history, rather than a fiction.
Very gritty story of those always on the fringes Of society. Realistic characters who haunt the reader with their pathos.
Fantastic!
Hard not to like Steinbeck. Very dark, very descriptive- you can almost smell the fish being packed.
69 years young and finally reading the classics. Loved this book! Hated the ending.
Steinbeck! What can I say? A great American classic. Well-written. Amazing characterizations. So funny too. One of my favorites. Read this— then watch the movie with Nick Nolte & Deborah Winger. Perfect combo.
now one of my top 10; exceptional unique writing style, hard to put down. I think it is his most entertaining book
Hilarious the best characters a great quick read
For being a so called classic, I was disappointed and did not care for the ending.
Very insightful of the characters. Made them believable.
One of Steinbeck’s best character developments!
One of the greats of all time.
Interesting look at early rv travel. We travel fulltime in an rv and enjoyed his take on seeing America in the 60’s
I have read a number of Steinbeck’s books. My favorites are Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. The author has a good understanding of human nature and helps us explore the reasons people make the decisions they do. This is a worthwhile book.
Who can go wrong enjoying a Steinbeck book?
One of his best
. Well worth the time. A true Classic
Interesting, endearing, and unique characters doing their best with what they have mentally, physically, and emotionally. Humorous and poignant.
A classic. Worth reading.
Intellectually challenging and creates vivid images in the mind.