About the Book
Steinbeck was a prolific fiction writer, who discussed the miseries of common man of modern society through his multi- faceted art. He left behind three of his masterpieces,
In Dubious Battle (1936), a strike novel Of Mice andMen (1937),dealing with the life of the migratory labourers, The Grapes of Wrath (1939), a kind of folk- epic, three of the best comedies, Tortilla Flat (1035), narrating the life of the poisons, ‘Cannary Row (1945) and Sweet Thursday (1954), both dealing with the carefree life of the bums; two novels dealing with contemporary middle class society, The Wayward Bus (1947) and The Winter of Our Discontent (1961); two others dealing with the problems of evil or sin, The Pearl (1947) and East of Eden (1952); besides his early novels, Cup of Gold (1929), a historical romance, and To a God Unknown (1933), a myth. Apart from these, two volumes of short stories, The Long Valley (1938) and The Pastures of Heaven (1932) and minor creations like The Red Pony (1937), and The Short Reign of Pippin IV (1957).
This book endeavours to present a comprehensive view of Steinbeck’s fiction. The emphasis is mainly on the themes and techniques in his novels and stories. It was found useful to discuss Steinbeck’s fictional techniques along with his themes, in order to show the correlation between his techniques and themes. The most remarkable feature about the novelist is that he accomplishes a beautiful fusion and synthesis of art and ideas in his novels. He employs the techniques of interchapters, symbolism, imagery, etc. So the general theme of all his novels is the contrast between ‘Progress’ and ‘Poverty’ and the calamitous consequences of the exploitation of the poor and weak at the hands of the rich and socially great.
Steinbeck observed very closely the spiritual illness of the weak people due to the economic collapse of the nineteen- thirties, generated because of Great Depression.
Another major theme of Steinbeck is man’s ominous fate and man’s struggle with it. In this effort his art spans the gamut of human emotions from mirth to anguish, from child- birth to old age.
