Overview
John Steinbeck consistently appears on class reading lists across the U.S., and his work has influenced generations. Steinbeck lived and wrote during some of the most eventful and controversial eras of twentieth-century America, including the struggles of California's migrant workers during the 1930s, which led to his masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath.
A complicated man whose personal life often took a backseat to his writing-he fought his way through three marriages, was a distant father, and battled with alcoholism-Steinbeck wrote because he was compelled to. Yet he always doubted his abilities, and lived in fear of never writing a decent book.
Milton Meltzer's biography includes numerous excerpts of this iconic author's writing, and is the latest addition to the Up Close series.
Synopsis
John Steinbeck consistently appears on class reading lists across the U.S., and his work has influenced generations. Steinbeck lived and wrote during some of the most eventful and controversial eras of twentieth-century America, including the struggles of California's migrant workers during the 1930s, which led to his masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath.
A complicated man whose personal life often took a backseat to his writing—he fought his way through three marriages, was a distant father, and battled with alcoholism—Steinbeck wrote because he was compelled to. Yet he always doubted his abilities, and lived in fear of never writing a decent book.
Milton Meltzer's biography includes numerous excerpts of this iconic author's writing, and is the latest addition to the Up Close series.
Emily Anne ValenteCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up
This compact biography makes excellent connections between the themes of social and economic justice found in Steinbeck's work and the changes that were occurring in America around the time of the Depression. Meltzer explains that though this complicated and somewhat withdrawn man endured many problems in his personal life, he became an advocate for the poor and mistreated. He also details how Steinbeck's strong relationships with displaced farmers and other migrant workers forced to live in gruesome conditions eventually inspired him to write The Grapes of Wrath . Teens may be surprised to learn that this work led to accusations of Steinbeck being a communist and to death threats. Meltzer's language is concise and easy to understand, and powerful excerpts from Steinbeck's work are integrated throughout. A dozen or so small, black-and-white photographs of Steinbeck at different stages of his life are included. This short, appealing, and authoritative work is a great pick for biography collections.
Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up
This compact biography makes excellent connections between the themes of social and economic justice found in Steinbeck's work and the changes that were occurring in America around the time of the Depression. Meltzer explains that though this complicated and somewhat withdrawn man endured many problems in his personal life, he became an advocate for the poor and mistreated. He also details how Steinbeck's strong relationships with displaced farmers and other migrant workers forced to live in gruesome conditions eventually inspired him to write The Grapes of Wrath . Teens may be surprised to learn that this work led to accusations of Steinbeck being a communist and to death threats. Meltzer's language is concise and easy to understand, and powerful excerpts from Steinbeck's work are integrated throughout. A dozen or so small, black-and-white photographs of Steinbeck at different stages of his life are included. This short, appealing, and authoritative work is a great pick for biography collections.
—Emily Anne ValenteCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.