Welcome to The Steinbeck Review
Reading through the complete works of John Steinbeck in a year
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My introduction to John Steinbeck was an assignment in high school English. I didn’t appreciate his writing at the time but recognized The Grapes of Wrath as quality writing. A few years later I picked up Travel’s With Charley, his autobiographical account of traveling with his dog. This book appealed to my wanderlust and his writing stuck with me. Two years ago I read East of Eden at the recommendation of a good friend. Masterfully written, this book cemented Steinbeck as icon of American Literature. Then and there I vowed to read Steinbeck’s entire catalogue of works.
The idea to read an author’s complete works in the course of one calendar year came from Benjamin McEvoy, the creator of the Hardcore Literature video series on YouTube. Ben calls this a special author project. Reading an author’s works in chronological order over the course of a year can provide insight into their development as a writer and create an intimate bond with them and their works.
Have you ever completed a special author project? I would love to hear about it in the comments.
The chronological order of Steinbeck’s books is presented here. The only exceptions are the biographies I am reading alongside his works and the two journals I will be reading alongside The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. Those books marked by an asterisk are ones I have previously read.
Mad at the World by William Sounder - started December 2023
Cup of Gold
The Pastures of Heaven
The Red Pony
To A God Unknown
Tortilla Flat*
In Dubious Battle
Harvest Gypsies
Of Mice and Men
The Long Valley
Grapes of Wrath*
Working Days: The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath
The Forgotten Village
The Moon is Down
Bombs Away
Cannery Row
The Pearl
The Wayward Bus
A Russian Journal
Burning Bright
The Log from the Sea of Cortez
John Steinbeck: A Biography by Jay Parini
East of Eden*
Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
Sweet Thursday
The Short Reign of Pippin IV
Once There was a War
Winter of Our Discontent
Travels with Charley*
America and Americans
Steinbeck: A Life in Letters
Viva Zapata
The Acts of King Arthur and His Nobel Knights
Steinbeck in Vietnam: Dispatches from the War
John Steinbeck: Writer by Jackson Benson
“It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure on the world.” - John Steinbeck
I am excited about this project and I look forward to sharing the experience with you. Each month I will provide an update on my progress as well as my thoughts on what I have read.
I would love to hear from you in the comments. Have you read anything by Steinbeck? What was your impression? Any favorites?
Until next month…
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I read The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden back in high school, and I can honestly say that I still think about their themes and characters even now, nearly 8 years later. Steinbeck is truly a hallmark of American literature.
This is wonderful! I can't wait to read more. I recently, probably a month ago or so, purchased a copy of the Harvest Gypsies and have been watching the PBS documentary on the Dust Bowl. I had read the Grapes of Wrath a million years ago. But that's basically all that I have read of Steinbeck.