I didn't know that about Steinbeck. His works seem to symbolize "Americana".

Probably a victim of the McCarthy era witch hunts, huh?

I don't know if he's a "victim" of a McCarthy slam. He seemed to be genuinely sympathetic to communism's theoretical concern with economic fairness. His "Grapes of Wrath" is certainly an implied denunctiation of an economic system that caused great disruption and harm. In his "In Dubious Battle" -- which I liked, though a bit polemical -- he shows the abuses on both sides of the battle. The dubious manipulations of the union leaders and the callousness of the owners. He was willing to attack and identify wrong on both sides of the issue.

Steinbeck was roundly slammed for the socialist philosophies expressed in "The Grapes of Wrath" when it was first published. Later, some of the ideas--working people, or temporarily out-of-work people, really SHOULDN'T be allowed to starve in a free, civilized, democratic society--gained widespread enough support that reading the book now they don't seem strange. Some people still disagree with many of the programs put into place during the Depression era. My dad complains bitterly that "Roosevelt sold us into socialism."

Stienbeck the Great. A deserved title.
Cheers, Translator

Now that you mention it, I can see some socialist symbolism in Steinbeck's work.

In school I had an English teacher who was a big fan of his and assigned the class a book report on the Steinbeck book of our choice. I chose TORTILLA FLATS because I liked the title and I wanted to be a little different. It was such a boring read that about halfway thru I abandoned it for the more popular OF MICE AND MEN, which instantly became one of my favorite books ever.

In spite of his socialist sympathies [ )], Steinbeck is one of my favorites.

..and because of his socialist sympathies Steibeck is one of mine...
Cheers, Translator

He crosses the bridge, because at some level Steinbeck is a great humanist (I mean that in the best sense of the word). Perhaps this is something Translator and I share. A concern -- though manifest through differing ideologies -- for humanity.