American author John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (February 27, 1902 - December 20, 1968) was born in the United States. For his "realistic and inventive writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and strong social observation," he was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. Many of his writings are regarded as Western literary masterpieces, and he has been dubbed "a giant of American letters." He is well known for his comedy books Cannery Row (1945)...