"John Steinbeck was one of the greatest American authors of his time..." (Spiller, ), and will, contrary to many skeptics beliefs, be known for his use of sentimentalism, realism, and "...his ability to envelop the feelings of Americans." (Wooley, Newsbank) He did this through diligent research in discovering the true America in its rawest form. The product of this research was some of the most popular and widely criticized books in all of Americas literary history. …showed first 75 words of 1319 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1319 total…time. His stories showed a basic goodness in man, and an awareness of American culture that has captivated readers since they were written. His ability to capture the Salinas Valley area he grew up in was a major key to his writing success. He used this ability to write many of his best books and most importantly to write The Grapes of Wrath which will forever be known as a great piece of American literature.