His early years and education.
John Steinbeck was born February 27th, 1902 in Salinas, California. His lineage dates back to German, English and Irish descent. He later shortened his last name to Steinbeck from Großsteinbeck to appeal to the land he emmigrated to. His parents were John Ernst Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton. John's father worked as the Monterey County treasurer while John grew up in a small rural town. His mother, a former school teacher, shared his love for reading and writing. The family was a part of the Episcopal church; a mainline Anglican christian denomination. While they lived in a rural landscape, John found work on ranches nearby farms and ranches, later finding work with immigrant workers on Spreckels ranch; one of the best-preserved company towns in the United states today. While working from ranch to ranch he discovered that human nature wasn't the nicest instinct found in species; giving him what he needed to write "Of mice and men". Steinbeck went to Salinas High school and graduated in 1919. From there he attended Stanford university for five years. However he left without a degree and moved to New York. While in this state, John tried to write but continued to fail having his work published. After working endless odd jobs and collecting important knowledge for future novels; John finally published his first bool, "Tortilla Flat". He went on from there to publish many more pieces of writing.
Other works by John Steinbeck.
Other published novels of John Steinbeck include "In Dubious Battle", "The Grapes Of Wrath", "The Pearl", "East of Eden", "Travels with Charley" and many more. John Steinbeck wrote up to 33 novels! And "Of Mice and Men" is only one of them!
Author's Awards
In 1962 John Steinbeck won the a Nobel Prize for the his literature. The reason being his realistic and imaginative writing, combining as it does sympathetic humor and keen social perception. In his acceptance speech he claimed that he had not deserved this award and quoting him said, "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. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature." Steinbeck died 6 years later of heart disease and congestive heart failure.
So WHY?
John Steinbeck wrote "Of Mice and Men" to represent the hardships that any person can go through. He shows the difficulties of ranch labourers and their stories. Having gone through the experiences of a migrant ranch worker, Steinbeck knew the harsh conditions and life moving from place to place. This story refers to the everyday struggles of man, especially during the great depression.
Sources
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Steinbeck_write_'Of_mice_and_men' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html
John Steinbeck was born February 27th, 1902 in Salinas, California. His lineage dates back to German, English and Irish descent. He later shortened his last name to Steinbeck from Großsteinbeck to appeal to the land he emmigrated to. His parents were John Ernst Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton. John's father worked as the Monterey County treasurer while John grew up in a small rural town. His mother, a former school teacher, shared his love for reading and writing. The family was a part of the Episcopal church; a mainline Anglican christian denomination. While they lived in a rural landscape, John found work on ranches nearby farms and ranches, later finding work with immigrant workers on Spreckels ranch; one of the best-preserved company towns in the United states today. While working from ranch to ranch he discovered that human nature wasn't the nicest instinct found in species; giving him what he needed to write "Of mice and men". Steinbeck went to Salinas High school and graduated in 1919. From there he attended Stanford university for five years. However he left without a degree and moved to New York. While in this state, John tried to write but continued to fail having his work published. After working endless odd jobs and collecting important knowledge for future novels; John finally published his first bool, "Tortilla Flat". He went on from there to publish many more pieces of writing.
Other works by John Steinbeck.
Other published novels of John Steinbeck include "In Dubious Battle", "The Grapes Of Wrath", "The Pearl", "East of Eden", "Travels with Charley" and many more. John Steinbeck wrote up to 33 novels! And "Of Mice and Men" is only one of them!
Author's Awards
In 1962 John Steinbeck won the a Nobel Prize for the his literature. The reason being his realistic and imaginative writing, combining as it does sympathetic humor and keen social perception. In his acceptance speech he claimed that he had not deserved this award and quoting him said, "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. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature." Steinbeck died 6 years later of heart disease and congestive heart failure.
So WHY?
John Steinbeck wrote "Of Mice and Men" to represent the hardships that any person can go through. He shows the difficulties of ranch labourers and their stories. Having gone through the experiences of a migrant ranch worker, Steinbeck knew the harsh conditions and life moving from place to place. This story refers to the everyday struggles of man, especially during the great depression.
Sources
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Steinbeck_write_'Of_mice_and_men' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html