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Pastures of Steinbeck
Novels and Stories, 1932-1937: The Pastures of Heaven / To a God Unknown / Tortilla Flat / In Dubious Battle / Of Mice and Men (Library of America)Novels and Stories, 1932-1937: The Pastures of Heaven / To a God Unknown / Tortilla Flat / In Dubious Battle / Of Mice and Men (Library of America) by John Steinbeck
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Phase 1 of the future Nobel laureate's prime, including "Of Mice & Men," California Commonwealth Club Award-winning "Tortilla Flat" & "In Dubious Battle", beautiful short stories ("Pastures") & more.
" Grapes of Wrath" and Other Writings 1936-1941 (Library of America)" Grapes of Wrath" and Other Writings 1936-1941 (Library of America) by John Steinbeck
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Phase 2: Pulitzer for "The Grapes of Wrath" (based on the 1936 "Harvest Gypsies" report), more short stories ("The Long Valley", incl. O.Henry Award-winner "The Murder") & naval exploration ("Log").
Steinbeck Novels 1942-1952 (Library of America)Steinbeck Novels 1942-1952 (Library of America) by John Steinbeck
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Phase 3: His major novels from the 1940s plus 1952's epic, awe-inspiring "East of Eden." (So where's Part 4, editors of the Library of America?! The guy didn't stop writing in '52, after all ...)
The Grapes Of Wrath [1940]The Grapes Of Wrath [1940]
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Who could forget the movies based on his books? First and foremost the depression-era tale of angry "harvest gypsy" Tom Joad and his family, starring Henry Fonda and directed by John Ford -
East Of Eden [1955]East Of Eden [1955]
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- and Elia Kazan's adaptation of the Cain and Abel tale of unequal brothers Cain & Aron Trask (James Dean & Richard Davalos), their father (Raymond Massey) and their lady love Abra (Julie Harris).
Of Mice and Men [1939]Of Mice and Men [1939]
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Steinbeck's touching story of troubled migrant workers George and Lenny was adapted several times, first in this 1939 version starring Burgess Meredith (George) and Lon Chaney Jr. (Lenny) ...
Of Mice And Men [1992]Of Mice And Men [1992]
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... and again in this equally great 1992 movie, starring Gary Sinise (who also directed) as George and John Malkovich as Lenny.
The Red Pony (Steinbeck "Essentials")The Red Pony (Steinbeck "Essentials") by John Steinbeck
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Originally published 1937, partially re-included in "The Long Valley" and expanded in 1945: interrelated stories of a boy's coming-of-age. ("The Promise" also won another O. Henry Award.)
The Red Pony [1949] (REGION 1) (NTSC)The Red Pony [1949] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Steinbeck himself wrote the screenplay for this 1949 adaptation starring Peter Miles, Robert Mitchum & Myrna Loy, scored by Aaron Copeland & directed (like the 1st "Mice & Men") by Lewis Milestone.
ZapataZapata by John Steinbeck
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His Oscar-nominated original screenplay for the 1952 movie "Viva Zapata!" (starring Marlon Brando, Anthony Quinn and Jean Peters), plus his extensive background research.
Travels with Charley: In Search of America (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)Travels with Charley: In Search of America (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) by John Steinbeck
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One of Steinbeck's most beloved later works, the account of his & poodle Charley's 3-month road trip across America. To truly make it come alive, get the magnificent audio version read by Gary Sinise
Sweet Thursday (Penguin Modern Classics)Sweet Thursday (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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"Cannery Row"'s sequel, written 9 years later. The war is over, the boys are back, the canneries are closed, new characters are introduced ... and Doc overcomes midlife angst and finally finds love!
The Winter of Our Discontent (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)The Winter of Our Discontent (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century) by John Steinbeck
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Set in a (for Steinbeck) untypical New England locale, his last novel explores man's moral decay in a society increasingly embracing consumerism and materialism at the expense of inner values.
The Wayward Bus (Penguin Modern Classics)The Wayward Bus (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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In this seemingly lighter, but pointed character study, an errant bus trip from a little town in the middle of nowhere to Los Angeles brings together a number of truly memorable individuals.
Burning Bright: A Play In Story Form (Penguin Modern Classics)Burning Bright: A Play In Story Form (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Like many of his better-known works, Steinberg's "play-novelette" (formally merging fiction narrative and drama) also deals with the human condition and the quest for a meaningful life.
Cup of Gold:a Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History (Penguin Classics)Cup of Gold:a Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History (Penguin Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Even in his first novel (one of his few historic tales, on a pirate's life) these themes are already prevalent. Not up to his later standard, but an auspicious enough debut!
The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (Penguin Modern Classics)The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Steinberg does satire, and in the process pokes fun at everything from society and the government to big biz and great historic writers. If you thought this is REALLY just about France, think again...
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (Penguin Modern Classics)The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Uncompleted and somewhat of a curiosity in Steinberg's canon, his attempt at a modernized adaptation of the first work of fiction he had read as a boy, Malory's "Morte d'Arthur."
America and Americans: And Selected Nonfiction (Penguin Classics)America and Americans: And Selected Nonfiction (Penguin Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Some of his best journalistic writing, including the title piece (on democracy and the American experience), additional reports on the "harvest gypsies," and selected war reports (WWII, Vietnam).
Once There Was a War (Penguin Modern Classics)Once There Was a War (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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More journalism: Published with the critical hindsight of over a decade later, a collection of Steinbeck's accounts of the everyday horrors of WWII.
A Russian Journal (Penguin Modern Classics)A Russian Journal (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Almost an early companion piece to "Travels w. Charley": 3 years after the end of WWII, Steinbeck & photographer Capra visited Russia - to discover the universal likeness of people all over the world.
A Life in Letters (Penguin Modern Classics)A Life in Letters (Penguin Modern Classics) by John Steinbeck
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Steinbeck's correspondence with friends & family: an unintentional autobiography of sorts, edited and published posthumously by his wife and close friend Robert Wallsten. Candid, captivating insights.
Benson Jackson J. : True Adventures of John SteinbeckBenson Jackson J. : True Adventures of John Steinbeck by Jackson J. Benson
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THE authoritative biography of the man, based on extensive research, by one of the great experts on Steinberg and other Western writers (e.g. Wallace Stegner). A brick, but not a weighty one!