John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. was born in Salinas, California in 1902. He lived in a community that was filled with many immigrants. At a very early age he learned the value of hardwork by working as a farmer in between terms at Stanford. In the hopes to start his writing career he moved to New York, but wouldn't find his success until later. His life growing up at the beginning of the 20th century was full of innovation and adventure that would soon be met by extreme plight.

Steinbeck served as a war correspondent during WWII. After the war ended he did not skip a beat and got back to the thing he was most passionate about, Writing! His popularity began to grow across the US during the time of the Great Depression. His works were relatable and applicable to the harsh time they were living in. A couple years before releasing his first book Steinbeck married his first wife, Carol Henning. He married a total of three times. Steinbeck's writing gave the American people hope and he was praised and rewarded for it.

John Steinbecks greatest work is a book titled "The Grapes of Wrath". It tells the story of a family from Oklahoma that migrates to California during the great depression for better opportunity. It is a stand for workers rights and speaks about the struggles workers face in dealing with corrupt land owners. His unique aesthetic and tone create serious yet mellow humoristic feeling while reading his books. His amazing work ethic and determination to become a great writer relates to the migrants want for a better life. He often drew from his own experiences working in California. "The Grapes Of Wrath" and his books in general are important because they teach us of what America was like in one its hardest times and help us to overcome obstacles.

Steinbeck's writings are against the grain and different and he given several awards for this in his lifetime.

The Nobel Prize For Literature (1962)

The Pulitzer Prize (1940)

National Book Award (1940)

were some of his biggest accalaids

“To be alive at all is to have scars. ”

A jeering quote from steinboks last published novel, "winter of our discontent". Published in 1961, it tells the story of Ethan Allen Hawley and his want for success in a world where success is virtually impossible without engaging in illegal activity. His real and honest spirit are what make this quote so much more endeering. In life we will have struggles and things that will hypothetically "cut our skin". Eventually the skin scars, we com back stronger and learn from our struggles.

Although I find most of the books I read about America in the early 1900's bland and boring I respect Steinbeck's novels. He doesn't simply write about this time period but uses it to protect the ideas and experiences of the underdogs of America. His drive and determination in such a difficult time in America is admirable. Gaining success and going down in history as one of Americas most admired and classic authors is not easy to do when battling a severe economic crisis. For this reason I respect him not only as an author but as a person.

If John Steinbeck were here I'm sure he would answer this question with one word: Unity. Steinbeck always tried to promote fairness and equality. This is why he often wrote about poor or mistreated workers. He spread ideas of fairness. I believe this is how he wanted his audience to view the struggles in his books.