Writing

John Steinbeck

Born February 27, 1902 · Salinas, California, USA

Died December 20, 1968 · aged 66

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. (February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952) and the novella Of Mice and Men (1937). Author of twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and five collections of short stories, Steinbe…

Known For

East of Eden

East of Eden · 1955

In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath · 1940

The Grapes of Wrath

Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure. He catches up with them on his Uncle’s farm, and joins them the next day as they head for California and a new life... Hopefully.

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men · 1992

Of Mice and Men

Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.

In Dubious Battle

In Dubious Battle · 2016

In Dubious Battle

In the California apple country, 900 migratory workers rise 'in dubious battle' against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members, and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan, the strike is founded on his tragic idealism—'courage, never submit, or yield'.

Lifeboat

Lifeboat · 1944

During World War II, a small group of survivors is stranded in a lifeboat together after the ship they were traveling on is destroyed by a German U-boat.

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath · 2024

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath

Forced to travel West in search of a promised land, the Joad family embark on an epic journey across America in the hope of finding work and a new life in California. Their story is one of false hopes, wrong turns and broken dreams, but also a hymn to human kindness and a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit. Filmed live at the National Theatre, Carrie Cracknell (Julie, The Deep Blue Sea) directs Frank Galati’s award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece.

Viva Zapata!

Viva Zapata! · 1952

MovieHistoryDrama

The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Díaz in the early 20th century.

O. Henry's Full House

O. Henry's Full House · 1952

O. Henry's Full House

MovieComedyDrama

Five O. Henry stories, each separate. The primary one from the critics' acclaim was "The Cop and the Anthem". Soapy tells fellow bum Horace that he is going to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a nice jail cell. He fails. He can't even accost a woman; she turns out to be a streetwalker. The other stories are "The Clarion Call", "The Last Leaf", "The Ransom of Red Chief", and "The Gift of the Magi".

Filmography

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East of Eden

East of Eden · 1955

In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.

Novel

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath · 1940

The Grapes of Wrath

Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure. He catches up with them on his Uncle’s farm, and joins them the next day as they head for California and a new life... Hopefully.

Novel

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men · 1992

Of Mice and Men

Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.

Novel

In Dubious Battle

In Dubious Battle · 2016

In Dubious Battle

In the California apple country, 900 migratory workers rise 'in dubious battle' against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members, and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan, the strike is founded on his tragic idealism—'courage, never submit, or yield'.

Novel

Lifeboat

Lifeboat · 1944

During World War II, a small group of survivors is stranded in a lifeboat together after the ship they were traveling on is destroyed by a German U-boat.

Story

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath · 2024

National Theatre at Home: The Grapes of Wrath

Forced to travel West in search of a promised land, the Joad family embark on an epic journey across America in the hope of finding work and a new life in California. Their story is one of false hopes, wrong turns and broken dreams, but also a hymn to human kindness and a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit. Filmed live at the National Theatre, Carrie Cracknell (Julie, The Deep Blue Sea) directs Frank Galati’s award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece.

Writer

Viva Zapata!

Viva Zapata! · 1952

MovieHistoryDrama

The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Díaz in the early 20th century.

Screenplay

O. Henry's Full House

O. Henry's Full House · 1952

O. Henry's Full House

MovieComedyDrama

Five O. Henry stories, each separate. The primary one from the critics' acclaim was "The Cop and the Anthem". Soapy tells fellow bum Horace that he is going to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a nice jail cell. He fails. He can't even accost a woman; she turns out to be a streetwalker. The other stories are "The Clarion Call", "The Last Leaf", "The Ransom of Red Chief", and "The Gift of the Magi".

Narrator

Cannery Row

Cannery Row · 1982

MovieDramaRomance

Doc, who has just moved to Cannery Row, realizes that the only entertainment is the brothel. There he meets the spunky Suzy and they fall in love, giving them both a renewed chance at life.

Novel

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men · 1939

Of Mice and Men

An intellectually disabled giant and his level headed guardian find work at a sadistic cowboy's ranch in depression era America.

Novel

The Red Pony

The Red Pony · 1949

MovieDramaFamily

Peter Miles stars as Tom Tiflin, the little boy at the heart of this John Steinbeck story set in Salinas Valley. With his incompatible parents -- the city-loving Fred and country-happy Alice -- constantly bickering, Tom looks to cowboy Billy Buck for companionship and paternal love.

Writer

The Pearl

The Pearl · 2001

A poor Mexican diver finds a priceless pearl that will change his impoverished family's future -- if he can fend off his own greed and the people trying to take advantage of him.

Novel

The Moon Is Down

The Moon Is Down · 1943

The Moon Is Down

The story of a small town in Norway that resists German occupation during World War II. Based on a John Steinbeck novel.

Novel

The Wayward Bus

The Wayward Bus · 1957

The Wayward Bus

Three strangers embark on a life-changing journey on a fateful bus ride. As the road presents challenges, each character faces his or her own shortcomings, not knowing where life will lead next.

Novel

The Red Pony

The Red Pony · 1973

MovieTV MovieDrama

A young farmboy who can't seem to communicate with his father develops an attachment to a young red pony.

Novel

Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat · 1942

MovieComedyDrama

Danny, a poor northern Californian Mexican-American, inherits two houses from his grandfather and is quickly taken advantage of by his vagabond friends.

Book

National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men

National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men · 2014

National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men

A powerful portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship.

Novel

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men · 1968

Of Mice and Men

MovieDramaTV Movie

Two ranch workers, one of them simple-minded, look for work and happiness during the Great Depression, but luck is not in their cards.

Novel

Fareler Ve İnsanlar

Fareler Ve İnsanlar · 1975

Fareler Ve İnsanlar

MovieDramaTV Movie

Novel

A Medal for Benny

A Medal for Benny · 1945

A Medal for Benny

Outcast Benny Martin joined the army to escape public scorn. But when townspeople learn that he is to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, they pretend that he and his family are cherished, eminent citizens.

Story

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men · 1981

Of Mice and Men

MovieDramaTV Movie

George and Lenny travel through the Depression-era west working at odd jobs, hoping to make enough money to buy their own farm. George must always watch over his intellectually disabled friend, and keep him out of danger, both to himself and to others. After they take a new job at a ranch, Lenny gets into far more trouble than George can talk his way out of, leaving George to decide whether to help him, or leave him to his fate.

Novel

The Winter of Our Discontent

The Winter of Our Discontent · 1983

The Winter of Our Discontent

MovieDramaTV Movie

This story tells those self-denials of an honest man what necessary to reach his object of life.

Original Film Writer

The Pearl

The Pearl · 1947

MovieDramaAdventure

Fisherman Quino and his wife Juana are very poor and desperate because the town's foreign doctor refuses to treat their son Coyotito, who has been bitten by a scorpion. When Quino unexpectedly finds a magnificent pearl in the sea, Juana senses that the discovery will only bring them misfortune and tries to convince her husband to return it to the sea.

Novel

The Harness

The Harness · 1971

MovieDramaTV Movie

A gentle John Steinbeck tale from 1938 about a farmer who is dominated by his ailing wife until a free-minded young woman turns up at his ranch with her eight-year-old son.

Short Story

World in Action

World in Action · 1963

World in Action

SeriesNewsDocumentary

World in Action was Granada Television’s flagship ITV current affairs series, running from 7 Jan 1963 to 7 Dec 1998, and built a reputation for film-led investigative reporting and a forceful editorial stance. Its journalism produced major public and political repercussions—including investigations associated with miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six—and it also served as a platform for landmark documentary projects, including the first broadcast of “Seven Up!” as part of the strand in 1964.

American Playhouse

American Playhouse · 1982

American Playhouse

SeriesDramaComedy

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

Novel

Monday's Theater

Monday's Theater · 1972

Monday's Theater

SeriesDramaComedy

Greek television series

Writer

East of Eden

East of Eden · 2026

This multigenerational saga follows the Trask family through generations shaped by ambition, betrayal, and the haunting, indelible antihero Cathy Ames.

Book

East of Eden

East of Eden · 1981

SeriesDramaSoap

A powerful eight-hour adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 generational saga stars Bruce Boxleitner and Timothy Bottoms as battling brothers reminiscent of Cain and Abel, and Jane Seymour as the malevolent young woman who toys with their emotions.

Novel