On Reading The Grapes of Wrath

Released to coincide with Viking's 75th anniversary edition of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, this book examines the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel's significance within the context of changing social, political, and scientific ideas since its first publication in 1939. Shillinglaw (English, San Jose State Univ.; Carol and John Steinbeck: Portrait of a Marriage) reads the novel through the lens of the ecological theories of Edward F. Ricketts, a marine biologist and one of Steinbeck's closest friends. She supports her reading with evidence drawn from some of Steinbeck's nonfiction, particularly Sea of Cortez. Shillinglaw provides, moreover, a richly detailed account of the growth of The Grapes of Wrath, including the origin of the title; Steinbeck's communications with his editor and proofreader; information on print runs, sales figures, and limited editions; and an assessment of its reception. She also devotes a chapter to John Ford's 1940 film version and its effect on the novel's reputation.