The Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of the Great Depression, a book that galvanized—and sometimes outraged—millions of readers.First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads—driven from their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of … promised land of California. Out of their trials and their repeated collisions against the hard realities of an America divided into Haves and Have-Nots evolves a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, elemental yet plainspoken, tragic but ultimately stirring in its human dignity. A portrait of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless, of one man’s fierce reaction to injustice, and of one woman’s stoical strength, the novel captures the horrors of the Great Depression and probes into the very nature of equality and justice in America. At once a naturalistic epic, captivity narrative, road novel, and transcendental gospel, Steinbeck’s powerful landmark novel is perhaps the most American of American Classics.
This Centennial edition, specially designed to commemorate one hundred years of Steinbeck, features french flaps and deckle-edged pages.
For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 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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A must read classic for anyone who wants to say they are educated!
“The Grapes of Wrath” is an excellent novel by an award-winning author who takes the reader from dust-bowl Oklahoma to the promised land of California in a broken-down truck that barely gets them there. The family includes the aging parents, an adult son, a teenage daughter, and others. When they reach California, all that’s available for them to do is to work as agricultural pickers in fields, backbreaking work for which they get paid next to nothing. The family is deteriorating as the story goes on, and the son joins with other men to try to force the owners to pay more, but the group is set upon by the law, so he is forced to leave. It is a really sad story, but I’m sure there was a lot of truth to it. Strongly recommended.
One of the most moving novels I’ve ever read.
Must read classic
Steinbeck, and particularly Grapes of Wrath, are true favorites. His works are transporting and insightful without hitting the reader over the head with attempts to be profound. Anyone who is a lover of American history and the plight of humans in hard times should read this novel taking place, and providing a plot, during the Dust Bowl.
The Best!
A must read for every American. This was a time in our country I am not old enough to remember, thank goodness. A very moving story that I will never forget. John Steinbeck was a writer I couldn’t get enough of from the first book of his I read. I was actually in middle school when I discovered his books and read every book of his I could find in the library. If you’ve never read his writing this book would be a memorable place to start. A heartbreaking book that you won’t want to put down.
This one is on my top 10 books of all time. What an epic tale! If you want a book with some meat to it….THIS IS IT!
It’s a John Steinbeck book. Great
American classic that gives each new generation an understanding of the Great Depression
Classic character development. Should now be considered historical fiction.
One of my all time favorites! Moved me deeply and stayed with me a long time.
A wonderful, historical novel about a hard time in America.
It makes you think about the hard working migrant workers of today as well.
Steinbeck. The best.
Hard to imagine living through depression and dust bowl years.
A great classic everyone should read
One of my favorite Steinbeck novels!
In high school, I read this book. Recently, I read it again. I enjoyed it more the second time as elective reading. The unforgettable characters, the setting and Steinbeck’s style make this novel a must-have.
A fabulous read and a great classic of American Literature charting in a biblical panorama the journey of one impoverished family from the dust bowl to the ‘promised land’ of California in the 1930’s.
One of my all-time favorite books by a favorite author; I’ve read Grapes of Wrath several times and have gained additional insights with each reading.