John Steinbeck: Novels and Stories 1932-1937 (Loa #72): The Pastures of Heaven / To a God Unknown / Tortilla Flat / In Dubious Battle / Of Mice and Me

By John Steinbeck

The Library of America presents for the first time in one volume Steinbeck's early writings, which expressed his abiding concerns for community, social justice, and the elemental connection between nature and human society. In prose that blends the vernacular and the incantatory, the local and the mythic, these five works chart Steinbeck's evolution into one of the greatest and most enduring popular of American novelists.

The Pastures of Heaven (1932), a collection of interrelated stories, delineates the troubled inner lives and sometimes disastrous fates of families living in a seemingly tranquil California valley. The surface realism of Steinbeck's first mature work is enriched by hints of uncanny forces at work beneath.

"Deep down it's mine, right to the center of the world," says Salinas Valley farmer Joseph Wayne about his land in John Steinbeck's To a God Unknown (1933). A sense of primeval magic dominates the novel as the farmer reverts to pagan nature worship and begins a tortuous journey toward catastrophe and ultimate understanding.

Steinbeck's sympathetic depiction of the raffish paisons of Tortilla Flat (1935), a ramshackle district above Monterey, first won him popular attention. The Flat's tenderhearted, resourceful, mildly corrupt, over-optimistic characters are a triumph of life-affirming humor.

In Dubious Battle (1936) plunges into the political struggle of the 1930s and paints a vigorous fresco of a migrant fruit-pickers' strike. Anticipating the collective portraiture of The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck poignantly traces the surges and shifts of group behavior.

With Of Mice and Men (1937), Steinbeck secured his status as one of the most influential American writers. Lennie and George, itinerant farmhands held together in the face of deprivation only by the frailest of dreams, have long since passed into American mythology. This novel, which Steinbeck called "such a simple little thing," is now recognized as a masterpiece of concentrated emotional power.

LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation's literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America's best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1883011019
• ISBN13: 9781883011017
• Release Date: September 1994
• Publisher: Library of America
• Length: 912 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Great works

I recently visited Monterey and upon my return home, I became obsessed with Steinbecks novels as many of them focus on this beautiful city. This collection is a great reminder of lifes ups and downs, friendship, and perserverance. Very easy to read and relate to.

Some pretty amazing Steinbeck magic

This volume contains some of the earlier works of John Steinbeck. Steinbeck was a master of the English language and had the talent of using the least amount of words to convey the greatest amount of emotions. His stories are moving without being cheap. He is compassionate and had keen insight into his characters and the world at large.Reviewing each story that appears in this volume is beyond the scope of this review, and you should check out that various titles individually. I will just say a few words about the collection in general. Steinbeck's earlier works are, in my opinion, better than his later, more ambitious works. While his later works can be viewed as some sort of social criticism, these earlier works are simply his personal salute to human nature. Steinbeck knew a basic truth about writing - if you want to write a great book, before you have a great theme, make sure you have great characters, and the rest will follow.Steinbeck is both profound and very accessible at the same time, which I think is the trademark of a great author. He wrote for ordinary people (unlike, say, Joyce), and at the same time his works are complex enough to be appreciated by scholars. Whatever group you belong to, you will not regret reading this book.

steinbeck at his best in Mice and Men

This wonderful novella tells the ineffably sad tale of two itinerant farm laborers in Depression California. George Milton is a small wiry man, his traveling companion, Lennie Small, is a giant, but a simpleton. The two travel from farm to farm, one step ahead of trouble as Lennie's incredible strength and feeble brain continually land them in trouble. Other farm hands are struck by the rarity of finding such men traveling as partners, but Lennie and George have a dream, a dream of a better life. As soon as they can raise $600 they can buy a farm and be their own bosses and Lennie will get to raise the rabbits that he loves, but has a tendency to accidentally crush. Unfortunately, trouble awaits at the farm where they are headed. The ranch owner's son, Curley, can't control his new bride who has "the eye" or his own temper which flares up whenever she starts flirting with the hired hands.This is one of those books you had to read in 9th grade, largely because it was by a famous author and it's short enough that teachers figure students might actually finish it. If you haven't read it since, give it another try. The relationship between George and Lennie is one of the most beautiful, and oft imitated, in all of literature and the themes of love, friendship, loyalty, courage and the dream of a better life are both timeless and compelling.GRADE: A+

The definitive Steinbeck

I have been a big Steinbeck fan for a long time now, and I have found the ultimate collection of his works in this book. It is perfect for the long time fan as well as the beginner. The long time fans will appreciate the collection as classic Steinbeck, whereas the newcomers can get aquainted with his works. From "The Patures of Heaven" to "Of Mice and Men", you get five different tales, and a good look at the range of Steinbecks abilities. With "In Dubious Battle" you can get a taste of things to come in "The Grapes of Wrath." From "To a God Unknown" you get a good look at Steinbecks religious studies. In all five tales, you clearly see the tremendous influence that California's Salinas Valley has had on his work. All I can say is that it is a must have for any library, or just for anyone that's interested in Steinbeck.

Pastures of Heaven

I read chapter 6 of "The Pastures of Heaven" when I was a high school student. Since then, after thousands of short stories, I still find myself rereading Junius Maltby's story at least once a month. As part of the 'novel' it is the gravitational center. No one (Nabakov, Munro, Gallant) has ever achieved a short story with so much power. However, I still haven't figured out why?