Of Mice and Men is a 1937 novel by John Steinbeck about two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression. The story takes place on a ranch in California and focuses on their friendship and dream of owning their own farm. However, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife and George is forced to kill Lennie to protect him from being lynched. Major themes of the novel include loneliness, the American Dream, and the struggle of migrant workers during the Depression era.