John Steinbeck was an American author born in 1902 in Salinas, California. He is renowned for novels like Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Pearl. Steinbeck struggled early in his career but found success with these works, winning the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize for Literature. He worked various jobs before becoming an established author and explored important social themes in his writing. Steinbeck never sought publicity and died of heart failure in 1968.

1. John Steinbeck By Ishwarya Rajendran Period 1 5/1/09

2. Early Life Born on February 17,1902 in Salinas, California. Graduated from Salinas High School in 1919, and attended Stanford University from 1919-1925. His house he grew up in is now a gift shop and a nice restaurant.

3. Family Life Father was a county treasurer named John Ernst Steinbeck (1863-1935). Mother, Olive Hamilton Steinbeck , was a teacher, and inspired John's interest in books(1867-1934). John was the third son, and the only boy of his mother's. Had three sisters: Mary, Beth, and Ester . Married three times: Carol Henning Steinbeck Brown Gwyndolyn Conger Steinbeck Elaine Anderson Scott Steinbeck John had two sons with Gwyndolyn named Thomas Stienbeck and John Steinbeck IV.

4. Accomplishments John Steinbeck is one of America's most popular and well known novelists. In 1929, he published his first novel, Cup of Gold , but received very little attention from readers. He is well known for his novel, The Grapes of Wrath , in 1939, which also won a Pulitzer prize. The Pearl and Of Mice and Men were also very popular. He explored many different themes with different views as a social protest writer, journalist,a naturalist, a realist, and a playwright.

6. Honors and Awards 1935 - Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Best Book by a Californian (Tortilla Flat) 1938 - New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (Of Mice and Men) 1940 - Pulitzer Prize Fiction Award (The Grapes of Wrath) 1948 - Member American Academy of Arts and Letters 1962 - Nobel Prize for Literature 1963 - Honorary Consultant in American Literature to the Library of Congress 1964 - United States Medal Of Freedom 1966 - Member National Arts Council

7. His Jobs John Steinbeck did many odd jobs to support himself during high school and the times before he had published any of his writings. He worked at farms and ranches during vacation. He was apprentice hood carrier, apprentice painter, surveyor, a caretaker of an estate, and a fruit picker. He was a laborer in a sugar factory,in mills, and also a ranch hand. He helped in writing speeches for presidential campaign later in his life as a well known author.

8. When He Died John Steinbeck died on December 28, 1968 in New York City due to heart failure. His ashes are buried in The Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas, California. The remainder of his life after writing novels and journals, he mostly kept to himself and shunned publicity.

9. Quotes of John Steinbeck "Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." "Man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, then steps in it." "The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true." "Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard." "We spend our time searching for security and hate it when we get it." "A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." "The free exploring mind of the individual human is the most vauable thing in the world."

10. Works Cited &quot;John Steinbeck.&quot; Encyclopædia Britannica . 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 04 May. 2009 < http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/564980/John-Steinbeck Reuben, Paul P. &quot;John Steinbeck (1902-1968): A Brief Literary Biography.&quot; PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide . URL:http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/append/steinbeck_bio_s99.html (provide page date or date of your login). &quot;John Steinbeck.&quot; Wikipedia . Wikipedia, 2008. Answers.com 04 May. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/john-steinbeck

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