Product Description

A parable of commitment, loneliness, hope and loss, OF MICE AND MEN is a powerful and moving portrayal of two men striving to understand their own unique place in the world. Drifters in search of work, George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have nothing in the world except each other - and a dream. A dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch, but their hopes are doomed as Lennie - struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy - becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes, friendship and a shared vision, and giving a voice to America's lonely and dispossessed, OF MICE AND MEN remains Steinbeck's most popular work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5394 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Review
Steinbeck refuses to allow himself to be pigeonholed. This is as completely different from Tortilla Flat and In Dubious Battle as they are from each other. Only in his complete understanding of the proletarian mentality does he sustain a connecting link - though this is assuredly not a "proletarian novel". It is oddly absorbing - this picture of the strange friendship between the strong man and the giant with the mind of a not-quite-bright child. Driven from job to job by the failure of the giant child to fit into the social pattern, they finally find - in a ranch - what they feel their chance to achieve a homely dream they have built. But once again, society defeats them. There's a simplicity, a directness, a poignancy in the story that gives it a singular power, difficult to define. Steinbeck is a genius - and an original. (Kirkus Reviews)

About the Author
Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck is remembered as one of the greatest and best-loved American writers of the twentieth century. From September 2000 his complete works will be published by Penguin.

Customer Reviews

One of the most popular books in American Literature-and for good reason!
This wonderful book is one of the most popular books written by Nobel prize winner-John Steinbeck.

It is also probably one of the most popular books in American Literature.

Set during The Great Depression,The story is about two migrant farm workers-George Milton(who is a cynical man) and Lennie Small(who is very big,strong but mentally disabled and reliant on George to look after him) and how they dream of owning their own piece of land.

Due to something Lennie has done(which was actually sort of a misunderstanding),the pair must go to a ranch in Soledad,California, to make money and escape the trouble they are in.

The book is an amazing tale of friendship and the heartbreaking thing George must do at the end to save his friend Lennie is so touching.

I read this book for GCSE and it is now one of my favourite's.

It is a definite 'must read' and I would recommend it 100%.

A touching story of friendship
This is a beautifully written and very touching short story (at around 100 pages it's a quick read) about friendship in very difficult circumstances. There was a touch of a misogynist but as I haven't read any of Steinbecks other novels this may have just been a necessary portrayal of the female character. I would recemmend this.

Brilliant American Novel
I have just finished this book with my Special educational needs English group, they undertood so much of this book and loved it more than i thought possible, this book goes to show that here are greater hidden depths within us all, and some times we pre-judge wrongly. And some times all things are inevitable