This resource offers a fascinating survey of the changing fortunes of Steinbeck's critical reputation. (Criticism)

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.

Celebrates the American writer who in his works confronted and explored the social fabric of the United States in the early 20th century. More than 500 entries include synopses of his novels, short stories, and nonfiction; descriptions of his characters, details about family, friends, and associates.

John Steinbeck is one of the most popular and important writers in American literature. Novels such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men,and East of Eden and the journal Travels with Charley convey the core of Steinbeck’s work—fiction that is reflective and compassionate. The Nobel prize winner cared deeply about people, and his writing captured the spirit, determination, and willingness of individuals to fight for their rights and the rights of others. His art of caring is critical for today’s readers and as a touchstone for our collective future. In Citizen Steinbeck: Giving Voice to the People, Robert McParland explains how the author’s work helps readers engage in moral reflection and develop empathy. McParland also looks at the ways educators around the world have used Steinbeck’s writings—both fiction and nonfiction—to impart ideals of compassion and social justice. These ideals are weaved into all of Steinbeck’s work, including his journalism and theatrical productions. Drawing on these texts—as well as interviews with secondary-level teachers—this book shows how Steinbeck’s work prompts readers to think critically and contextually about our values. Demonstrating the power a single author can have on generations of individuals around the world, Citizen Steinbeck enables readers to make sense of both the past and the present through the prism of this literary icon’s inspirational work.

A Study Guide for John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students.This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.

In Steinbeck's Imaginarium, Robert DeMott delves into the imaginative, creative, and sometimes neglected aspects of John Steinbeck's writing. DeMott positions Steinbeck as a prophetic voice for today as much as he was for the Depression-era 1930s as the essays explore the often unknown or unacknowledged elements of Steinbeck's artistic career that deserve closer attention. He writes about the determining scientific influences, such as quantum physics and ecology, in Cannery Row and considers Steinbeck's addiction to writing through the lens of the extensive, obsessive full-length journals that he kept while writing three of his best-known novels--The Grapes of Wrath, The Wayward Bus, and East of Eden. DeMott insists that these monumental works of fiction all comprise important statements on his creative process and his theory of fiction writing. DeMott further blends his personal experience as a lifelong angler with a reading of several neglected fishing episodes in Steinbeck's work. Collectively, the chapters illuminate John Steinbeck as a fully conscious, self-aware, literate, experimental novelist whose talents will continue to warrant study and admiration for years to come.

This collection reviews what has been categorized as the 'good' and the 'bad' of Steinbeck's short novels, looking beyond the careless labeling that has characterized a great deal of commentary on Steinbeck's writing to the true strengths and weaknesses of the works.

[Steinbecks Typewriter: Essays on His Art] collects several of DeMotts finest essays on Steinbeck... [that are] so carefully revised as to warn other critics seeking their own collected essay volume of the difference between a genuinely lapidary compilation and a kitchen midden. Illustrated with some rare photos, this collection is especially notable... John Ditsky, Choice ...Steinbecks Typewriter... stands as the most in-depth treatment of Steinbecks aesthetics, particularly in its exploration of the authors interior spaces and creative habits, elements of Steinbecks artistry which have not only been underestimated but woefully ignored. Stephen George, Steinbeck Review

"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.