Biography ! (:
John Steinbeck was a writer who wrote many books. Many of his books have become really popular during his lifetime. He had been married three times. Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 and died on December 20, 1968. Steinbeck graduated from Salinas High School
Born on Feb. 27, 1902 died Dec. 20, 1968
Graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto where he stayed for five years until 1925 leaving without a degree, then traveled to New York to have odd jobs while trying to write
In 1935 he wrote Tortilla Flat
Built a summer ranch home which he wrote In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and Men, and Grapes of Wrath
During The Great Depression he lived in a house owned by his father, his parents gave him free housing, paper for his manuscripts, and at the beginning of 1928 they gave him loans that allowed him to keep a warehouse job in San Francisco to focus on his writing. In 1935, Steinbeck had his first successful novel called The Tortilla Flat in Monterey, California. With some of his work he built a home in Los Gatos. After settling, Steinbeck worked on “In Dubious Battle”, “Of Mice and Men”, and “The Grapes of Wrath”. In 1940, Steinbeck went to The Gulf of California with his friend Ed Ricketts. The trip was about Steinbeck getting biological specimens, which is described in “ The Log of the Sea of Cortez.” His wife and Steinbeck were starting to have problems and their marriage ended in 1941, then getting remarried 1942 to Gwendolyn Conger. His second wife was the only wife to actually have a kid. In the May of 1948, Steinbeck went to California to see Ed Ricketts because he was seriously injured once his car was struck with a train. Hours after his arrival, Ricketts died, after that Gwendolyn wanted to have a divorce. In August, the divorce was final. He spent the rest of the year in deep depression. In 1949, Steinbeck met a stage manager named Elaine Scott and started a relationship in the December of 1950. Eventually married, one month from Elaine’s own divorced. The divorce lasted until his death on December 20, 1968. Steinbeck’s death was caused of heart disease and congestive heart failure. Died the age of 66 and was a life long smoker. An autopsy showed nearly complete occlusion of the main coronary arteries.
Steinbeck’s talks about how literature was so important to humanity and how we need it more than before. “Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed.” “This is not new. The ancient commission of the writer has not changed.” “Furthermore, the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit--for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love.”
HE ALSO HAS AN AWARD NAMED AFTER HIM?!
Who are some of the recipients of the Steinbeck Award? What is the purpose of the award?
Recipients- Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Rachel Maddow, John Mellencamp, Arthur Miller, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, John Sayles, Bruce Springsteen, Studs Terkel
Purpose-The award is given to artists who capture “the spirit of Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of the common man.”
Born on Feb. 27, 1902 died Dec. 20, 1968
Graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto where he stayed for five years until 1925 leaving without a degree, then traveled to New York to have odd jobs while trying to write
In 1935 he wrote Tortilla Flat
Built a summer ranch home which he wrote In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and Men, and Grapes of Wrath
During The Great Depression he lived in a house owned by his father, his parents gave him free housing, paper for his manuscripts, and at the beginning of 1928 they gave him loans that allowed him to keep a warehouse job in San Francisco to focus on his writing. In 1935, Steinbeck had his first successful novel called The Tortilla Flat in Monterey, California. With some of his work he built a home in Los Gatos. After settling, Steinbeck worked on “In Dubious Battle”, “Of Mice and Men”, and “The Grapes of Wrath”. In 1940, Steinbeck went to The Gulf of California with his friend Ed Ricketts. The trip was about Steinbeck getting biological specimens, which is described in “ The Log of the Sea of Cortez.” His wife and Steinbeck were starting to have problems and their marriage ended in 1941, then getting remarried 1942 to Gwendolyn Conger. His second wife was the only wife to actually have a kid. In the May of 1948, Steinbeck went to California to see Ed Ricketts because he was seriously injured once his car was struck with a train. Hours after his arrival, Ricketts died, after that Gwendolyn wanted to have a divorce. In August, the divorce was final. He spent the rest of the year in deep depression. In 1949, Steinbeck met a stage manager named Elaine Scott and started a relationship in the December of 1950. Eventually married, one month from Elaine’s own divorced. The divorce lasted until his death on December 20, 1968. Steinbeck’s death was caused of heart disease and congestive heart failure. Died the age of 66 and was a life long smoker. An autopsy showed nearly complete occlusion of the main coronary arteries.
Steinbeck’s talks about how literature was so important to humanity and how we need it more than before. “Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed.” “This is not new. The ancient commission of the writer has not changed.” “Furthermore, the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit--for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love.”
HE ALSO HAS AN AWARD NAMED AFTER HIM?!
Who are some of the recipients of the Steinbeck Award? What is the purpose of the award?
Recipients- Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Garrison Keillor, Rachel Maddow, John Mellencamp, Arthur Miller, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, John Sayles, Bruce Springsteen, Studs Terkel
Purpose-The award is given to artists who capture “the spirit of Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of the common man.”