The final novel of one of America’s most beloved writers—a tale of degeneration, corruption, and spiritual crisisA Penguin Classic In awarding John Steinbeck the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Nobel committee stated that with The Winter of Our Discontent, he had “resumed his position as an independent expounder of the truth, with an unbiased instinct for what is genuinely American.” Ethan … for what is genuinely American.” Ethan Allen Hawley, the protagonist of Steinbeck’s last novel, works as a clerk in a grocery store that his family once owned. With Ethan no longer a member of Long Island’s aristocratic class, his wife is restless, and his teenage children are hungry for the tantalizing material comforts he cannot provide. Then one day, in a moment of moral crisis, Ethan decides to take a holiday from his own scrupulous standards. Set in Steinbeck’s contemporary 1960 America, the novel explores the tenuous line between private and public honesty, and today ranks alongside his most acclaimed works of penetrating insight into the American condition. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by leading Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 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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Whenever I review I Steinbeck book I usually just give an example of his writing. I think it’s so beautiful. To me it’s like poetry. Here’s something from THE WINTER of OUR DISCONTENT
“June is gay—cool and warm, wet and shouting with growth and reproduction of the sweet and the noxious, the builder and the spoiler. The girls in the body-form slacks wander High Street with locked hands while small transistor radios sit on their shoulders and whine love songs in their ears. The young boys, bleeding with sap, sit on the stools of Tanger’s Drugstore ingesting future pimples through straws. They watch the girls with level goat-eyes and make disparaging remarks to one another while their insides whimper with longing.”
Steinbeck’s last novel which I believe earned him a Pulitzer prize.. The book captured my imagination and i had a hard time putting it down.
Steinbeck is justifiably famous for other works. This though may be his best. His depiction of multiple lines of passive-aggressive behavior, and the devastating wrought via them, is perfectly understated even well-hidden. Humanity’s contempt for its fellow man, regardless of relation, is illustrated haunting in these spare pages.
There’s a clear narrative of a man settling in to the post-WWII era that distinguishes between right and wrong, and shows his propensity for faith and family, even though he swims against the grain. His quick wit and banter with his wife reveals a comfortable marriage, with subtle tolerance for his children, yet willful rage against their unwillingness to show him the respect he scornfully commands. It is even more telling that he’s willing to leverage capitalism in his favor, even in the vein of a ruthless money horde. He’s cunning and quite methodical, but still relatable and redeemable. It’s hard to give this a fair review with so much working against it, but equal amounts working in its favor. I give it 4.4 out of 5.
Well written and interesting characters. Not a light tale, a bit depressing, but glad to have read it.
American Literature at its finest.
Well written. Interesting. Stands the test of time.
Steinbeck’s last of 16 novels. Maybe not his masterpiece, but nonetheless a great novel by a great writer. Explores the complexity of maintaining integrity and honor while fighting the external conflicts of life. A beautifully simple yet complex story.
Truly a classic. True Steinbeck.
Well, It’s Steinbeck. I would not dare to critique. It’s wonderful writing, plus a great story. He tugs at you.
A true classic.
As are all of his novels, a Steinbeck wonderful command of our language.
Still timely, if complicated. Great central character!
Not great writing by any means, but a twisting unpredictable plot that lays bare much that is contemptible in American business as usual.
“Thought provoking” ought to be one of the choices for things one likes about a book. Steinbeck is a master and this book is a classic for a reason.
A well-written, sad, novel.
In this, Steinbeck’s last book, the narrator is sarcastic with a humorous twist. It would be great for a book club discussion about the degree of greed in our lives.