The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath (1939) catapulted Steinbeck to national fame. Newlin (English, U. of North Carolina Wilmington) introduces 19 essays on the book and its author, the book's critical contexts and trends in its reception as a social protest novel, and critical readings of its modernist style, philosophy, symbolism, and politics. Especially noteworthy is an account of actual Dust Bowl migrants' responses to the novel. The volume includes a chronology of Steinbeck's life, list of his works, bibliography, and notes about The Paris Review (from which a perspective is provided). Annotation 穢2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)