John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) was an American writer, journalist, and war correspondent. Born in Salinas, California, he studied natural sciences at Stanford University but left without a degree. Before establishing himself as a writer, he worked a variety of temporary jobs. His books often portrayed the lives of ordinary workers and outsiders. His best-known works include *Of Mice and Men*, *The Grapes of Wrath*, and *East of Eden*. He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for *The Grapes of Wrath* and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.