To appreciate and understand John Steinbeck’s stories, students must comprehend what it was like to live during the Great Depression, and they must understand the working man to whom Steinbeck was attempting to appeal. Through direct quotations; biographical details; and in-depth discussions of his style, themes, and form, this text will allow readers to ponder and interpret Steinbeck’s works.

First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men has been a staple of American literature ever since. Divided by decade, The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men provides an overview of criticism over the 70 years the book has been in print. Michael J. Meyer has assembled significant articles and book excerpts from critics and reviewers, citing the early book reviews and highlighting some of the most significant essays. While not all critical studies are included, those assessments not present in the text are evaluated by summaries and their bibliographic citations are given. The essays express various critical approaches, including those that criticize the book and examine what some consider the book's flaws. Ideal for research work at all levels, this volume collects in one place the most significant contributions to the study of the novel, making it a welcome addition to the canon of Steinbeck criticism.

The 525 notable works of 19th and 20th century American fiction in this reference book have many stage, movie, television, and video adaptations. Each literary work is described and then every adaptation is examined with a discussion of how accurate the version is and how well it succeeds in conveying the spirit of the original in a different medium. In addition to famous novels and short stories by authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Willa Cather, many bestsellers, mysteries, children's books, young adult books, horror novels, science fiction, detective stories, and sensational potboilers from the past two centuries are examined.

A pioneering study of how American composer Aaron Copland helped shape the sound of the Hollywood film industry and introduced the moviegoing public to modern musical styles.

This volume narrows a huge gap in regard to Steinbeck translations in Eastern Europe, here considered in terms of the political division between Western Europe and the Soviet-dominated East. As the only book of its kind, and although intended for both literature scholars and the broader arts community, it makes an important contribution to Steinbeck and American literature studies, and is useful for scholars of the languages discussed here. Although Steinbeck is regarded as an American writer of high repute, his appeal and influence extend far beyond the borders of North America. As documented here, he was particularly popular in Eastern Europe, where he inadvertently served political purposes. Evaluated through an ideological lens, the sole value of his works was seen to reside in their utility to oppressive political regimes. Even works that clearly showed Steinbeck venturing into new topics and forms could not escape an ideological burden, whereas several others that lacked social necessity and documentary integrity were unjustifiably marginalised or consigned to oblivion. As this study also shows, only recently, following the fall of totalitarian rule, have Steinbeck’s works started to be approached from the various angles of contemporary criticism. The acknowledgement that there is much more to recommend in his books than that which was praised by those who, blinded by their commitment or because of imposed limitations on expectations, showed no appreciation for the variety and subtlety of Steinbeck’s writing, explains the recent renaissance of interest in the whole of Steinbeck’s oeuvre. Indeed, viewed without preconceived ideas and accepted for what they are, it is impossible not to respond to Steinbeck’s exploration of issues of freedom, individual choice, and relationships, and not to notice that he was much more than merely a proletarian writer.

Discusses the life and writings of American novelist and short-story writer John Steinbeck. Includes information on stage and screen adaptations of his works, critical assessments of his writing, and the Steinbeck centennial.

In this volume, Amnon Kabatchnik provides an overview of more than 150 important and memorable theatrical works of crime and detection between 1925 and 1950. Each entry includes a plot synopsis, production data, and the opinions of well known and respected critics and scholars.

"One of the great American authors of the 20th century; John Steinbeck (1902-1968) continues to be a focus of academic study and interest to readers around the globe. All of the Nobel-prize winner's major works remain in print, and new generations are discovering the power of such novels as Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, and The Grapes; of Wrath, as well as nonfiction works like Travels with Charley, The Log from The Sea of Cortez, and America and Americans. In addition to reissued works by Steinbeck, each year new articles and books examine the themes of his works and his impact on literature." "With such a prolific output, bibliographic resources have become a necessity; and in 1967 Scarecrow Press published the first Steinbeck bibliography, with subsequent volumes in 1974, 1981, and 1998. In this latest edition, Steinbeck scholar and historian Michael J. Meyer has compiled Steinbeck material written or published between 1996 and 2006." "The John Steinbeck Bibliography: 1996-2006 provides thousands of citations covering a broad range of publications, including newspaper articles, full-length critical studies, dissertations, theses, book reviews in English, and missed work from previous volumes, as well as websites and other media. Meyer also cites translations of Steinbeck's works as well as foreign-language books, journals, and reviews. The comprehensive index will help scholars determine which entries are related to various novels, themes, and historical events that are part of the Steinbeck canon. This complete resource for literature scholars and researchers will prove to be as invaluable as the previous volumes."--BOOK JACKET.