John Ernest Steinbeck Jr.

The Author
Issue in accepting the Nobel Prize

Biography

Literary Works

John Ernest Steinbeck Jr.

was an American writer

Widely known for the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Grapes of the Wrath and East of Eden, and the novella Of Mice and Men. As the author of 27 books, including 16 novels, 6 non-fiction books, and 5 collection of short stories, Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize from Literature in 1962.

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Biography of John Steinbeck

Born on: February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California He was of German and Irish descent John Adolf Grossteinbeck (his paternal grandfather) had shortened their family name to Steinbeck when he immigrated to the United States. His father, John Ernst Steinbeck, served as Monterey County Treasurer

Biography of John Steinbeck

Born on: February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California He was of German and Irish descent John Adolf Grossteinbeck (his paternal grandfather) had shortened their family name to Steinbeck when he immigrated to the United States. His father, John Ernst Steinbeck, served as Monterey County Treasurer

Biography of John Steinbeck

Johns mother, Olive Hamilton, is a former teacher Steinbeck graduated from Salinas High School in 1919 Studied in Stanford University, leaving without a degree He traveled to New York City when he took odd jobs while trying to write

Biography of John Steinbeck

He returned to California and worked in 1928 as a tour guide and caretaker at the fish hatchery in Tahoe City when he met Carol Henning, his first wife. Steinbeck and Henning were married in January 1930 After the publication of Tortilla Flat in 1935, he built a summer ranch-home in Los Gatos

Biography of John Steinbeck

In 1940, Steinbeck went on a voyage crossed the Gulf of California with his friend Ed Ricketts, to collect Biological Specimens, described in The Log from the Sea of Cortez Although Carol accompanied Steinbeck on the trip, their marriage was beginning to suffer and ended in 1941, even as Steinbeck worked on the manuscripts for the book.

Biography of John Steinbeck

In 1942, Steinbecks divorce from Carol became final and later that month he married Gwyndolyn Gwyn Conger. With his second wife, Steinbeck had only children, Thomas Thom Myles Steinbeck (1944) and John Steinbeck IV (1946-1991) In 1943, Steinbeck served as World War II war correspondent

Biography of John Steinbeck

In 1944, wounded by a close munitions explosion in North Africa, the war-weary author resigned from his work and returned home In 1947, Steinbeck made the 1st of many trips of the Soviet Union, with renowned photographer Robert Capa, becoming some of the 1st Westerners to visit many parts of the USSR since the Communist Revolution.

Biography of John Steinbeck

Steinbecks book about the experience, A Russian Journal, was illustrated with Capas photos. In 1948, the year the book was published, Steinbeck was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters In May 1948, Steinbeck traveled to California on an emergency trip to be with his friend Ed Ricketts, who had been seriously injured when his car was struck by a train.

Biography of John Steinbeck

Ricketts died hours before Steinbeck arrived. On returning home from a devastating trip, Steinbeck was confronted by Gwyn told him she wanted a divorce for various reasons related to estrangements. She could not be dissuaded and the divorce became final in August. Steinbeck spent the years after Ricketts death in deep depression.

Biography of John Steinbeck

In June 1949, Steinbeck met stage-manager Elaine Scott at a restaurant in Carmel, California. Steinbeck and Scott eventually began a relationship. In December 1950, Steinbeck and Scott married. This 3rd marriage for Steinbeck lasted until his death in 1968.

Biography of John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck died in New York City on December 20, 1968 of Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Failure. In accordance with his wishes, his body was cremated. And an urn containing his ashes was eventually interred in March 4, 1969 at the Hamilton Family Gravesite at Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Salinas, with those of his parents and maternal grandparents. His 3rd wife was buried in the plot in 2004.

Biography of John Steinbeck