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The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

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  • Create Date：2021-06-20 08:54:33
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：John Steinbeck
  • ISBN：0141185066
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Summary

Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here and here

John Steinbeck's powerful evocation of the suffering and hardship caused by the Great Depression， and a panoramic vision of the struggle for the American Dream， The Grapes of Wrath includes a critical introduction by Robert DeMott in Penguin Modern Classics。

'I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags， I don't want him satisfied。' Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939， Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic The Grapes of Wrath remains his undisputed masterpiece。 Set against the background of Dust Bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life， it tells of Tom Joad and his family， who， like thousands of others， are forced to travel west in search of the promised land。 Their story is one of false hopes， thwarted desires and broken dreams， yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human， yet majestic in its scale and moral vision。 Adapted into a celebrated film directed by John Ford， and starring Henry Fonda， The Grapes of Wrath is an eloquent tribute to the endurance and dignity of the human spirit。

Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition here。

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Reviews

Melissa Wingard ，

I listened to this book on Audible。 Between each chapter a harmonica would play - it startled me almost every time， was highly annoying and actually detracted from the story。 I do not like the ending。 There was no ending。 I followed the Joads lives and don’t get to know what happened to them？ Very frustrating。

Jenna ，

DNF 12% I couldn't stay focused。 Maybe I'll try again another time。 DNF 12% I couldn't stay focused。 Maybe I'll try again another time。 。。。more

Claudette St-Pierre ，

Very good reading

Andrea Iginio Cirillo ，

THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD«E gli occhi dei poveri riflettono， con la tristezza della sconfitta， un crescente furore。 Nei cuori degli umili maturano i frutti del furore e s'avvicina l'epoca della vendemmia。»Quasi ad ogni pagina， nella mia mente continuava ad esserci il sottofondo musicale della ballata di Springsteen。 Questo romanzo suona proprio a quel modo， il Boss l’ha proprio azzeccata。Pare un racconto biblico。 In un testo sacro dell’era moderna potrebbe esserci senza dubbio alcuno l’Odissea dei J THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD«E gli occhi dei poveri riflettono， con la tristezza della sconfitta， un crescente furore。 Nei cuori degli umili maturano i frutti del furore e s'avvicina l'epoca della vendemmia。»Quasi ad ogni pagina， nella mia mente continuava ad esserci il sottofondo musicale della ballata di Springsteen。 Questo romanzo suona proprio a quel modo， il Boss l’ha proprio azzeccata。Pare un racconto biblico。 In un testo sacro dell’era moderna potrebbe esserci senza dubbio alcuno l’Odissea dei Joad; che non si conclude， però， con un ritorno a casa， bensì con l’ignoto davanti e con la speranza che i membri dell’ “equipaggio” che restano non facciano la fine dell’Ulisse dantesco。 Mi sono accostato con una punta di timore a questo libro， col preconcetto che fosse un “mattone” poco attuale e gravoso alla lettura。 Che bello sbagliarsi， quando si scoprono capolavori。 Tra le righe è nascosta una solennità da classico antico， ma unita a urgenze contemporanee， al grido di coloro che non hanno nulla， che si sono visti privati di quel poco che avevano da generazioni e che vengono trattati come animali da soma e da macello da un’élite senza scrupoli （che a volte assume l’impersonalità disumana di una società per azioni， rendendo l’uomo simile a una macchina）。E allora seguiamo le peregrinazioni di questa famiglia disgraziata， che perde i pezzi a ogni tappa， nonostante i tentativi della mamma （non ha nome questa donna， a incarnare un archetipo universale） di tenere unito il nido familiare。 Più del babbo， che con zio John ha il capo rivolto al passato; più dei nonni， vittime della distruzione fisica e sociale che impera nell’Ovest americano。 E Rosa Tea， rimasta sola， la cui speranza di dare la vita viene frustrata， e il cui latte la rende una Madre Natura pronta a restituirla， una vita （Mother’s milk）。 E poi i bambini， il predicatore sovversivo， qualche anima buona che aiuta questi nomadi sradicati da ogni luogo。 E Tom。 Tom Joad。 Tom che incarna la giustizia - quella vera， reale， non quella della presunta legge -， che si schiera con chi vuole diritti basilari per condurre un’esistenza dignitosa; che il nido lo aveva perso， riguadagnato e poi ancora perso， costretto dal mondo a divenire fantasma， invisibile agli occhi dell’autorità， ma anche a quelli di sua madre。E il finale？ Aperto。 Ma aperto a nuove sofferenze e nuove illusioni， che - e il lettore arriva a sperarlo col cuore， perché ci si affeziona da morire - forse porteranno finalmente a un riscatto。 Di poche pretese， però， perché， a sentir la mamma， bastano un tetto sulla testa e un lavoro dignitoso。 Questo vorrebbero gli Okies。 Si accontentano di poco。Ora， lo stile: Steinbeck pare conoscere l’epica， ma è capace di adattarla a una vicenda molto vicina ai giorni nostri， che ci ricorda le infernali traversate dei migranti che dall’Africa giungono ai nostri lidi per cercare un avvenire migliore e che vengono sfruttati， risputati fuori da un Occidente che volta lo sguardo dall’altra parte。Piccola chiosa: che meraviglia i capitoli che guardano la vicenda da fuori， da un punto di vista esterno （le case abbandonate dai piccoli proprietari che， col passare delle stagioni， sono condannate a una desolazione che chi legge tocca con mano） o attraverso parabole （quella della tartaruga che attraversa la strada tra mille ostacoli）。 Paradigmi dell’esistenza che fanno di questo testo un’altra opera mondo， che credo mai finirà di dire quel che ha da dire。 。。。more

Vishnu Srinivas ，

I was hesitant to read this because I knew it was a sad， grueling story and I dont usually enjoy putting myself through emotional endeavours like that。 But， as a California resident I figured it was time to suck it up and read The Grapes of Wrath。First of all， I was right: this story is not happy。 It starts sad and it gets worse。 That said， it really does make you A） reflect on not just the history of migrant California workers but on the history of the United States as a whole B） give a glimpse I was hesitant to read this because I knew it was a sad， grueling story and I dont usually enjoy putting myself through emotional endeavours like that。 But， as a California resident I figured it was time to suck it up and read The Grapes of Wrath。First of all， I was right: this story is not happy。 It starts sad and it gets worse。 That said， it really does make you A） reflect on not just the history of migrant California workers but on the history of the United States as a whole B） give a glimpse into what life was like in the great depression （as a Gen-Z college student， thats a valuable perspective） and C） really appreciate the fight that people have in them， especially at their lowest points。I wouldn't say that I enjoyed reading this book。 That said， I think I'm better off having read it。 。。。more

Wendy Fuess ，

A masterpiece

TRE ，

The short of it is that Steinbeck is a great writer， but his predilection for communism shines through and tarnishes his stories。It's not just that Steinbeck colors outside the lines at times because of the natural bias we all have as humans for our own ideas， but he will straight up invert the truth to suit his own purposes。 The title itself comes from rotting fruit on the vine， which according to the book was from big bad capitalists， but in reality was due to the government （read: FDR's Folly The short of it is that Steinbeck is a great writer， but his predilection for communism shines through and tarnishes his stories。It's not just that Steinbeck colors outside the lines at times because of the natural bias we all have as humans for our own ideas， but he will straight up invert the truth to suit his own purposes。 The title itself comes from rotting fruit on the vine， which according to the book was from big bad capitalists， but in reality was due to the government （read: FDR's Folly by Jim Powell） refusing to let wages drop， so they careened from one intervention to another， creating absurd scenarios along the way like milk dumping and destroying other foodstuffs to prop up prices。 This action was directly done by farmers and their co-operatives as part of a strike， look up '33 Wisconsin milk strike。 The fact that this was done by the government and labor unionists， and NOT eeeevil landlords and bankers doesn't phase Steinbeck as he'll just straight up lie about it and hide behind this being a "dramatization。" Same energy as a modern-day Netflix series that is "based on a true story" where the true story portion is 1% and the rest is pigeon-holed to fit the narrative of the writers and producers。All that being said， including the author's hollowing out of Christianity and wearing it like a mask to fit his own red purposes （see: Casy's last words and Christ's last words on the cross， along with not believing in sin and strawmanning of any Christian groups）， this novel still stands up as a modern American classic as long as you fully realize that this fictional story is truly indicative of the time-- not just for the Okies' plight， but also for how fully infiltrated the US was with communist sympathizers in the 1930s， attempting to propagandize the American public with their art。 。。。more

Joseph Koffel ，

Drink milk

Nikola Majerle ，

Personally， I thought this book was quite long and difficult to keep up with。 With that said， it is an important story to read in order to understand that period in history and time， which is during the Great Depression in the USA。Struggling with poverty and hunger in a world filled with setbacks and opportunistic tycoons， you need to do your best to survive。I believe THAT is what this story is about。

Lavinia ，

Tremendo。

Marshal ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 In this book， nothing good whatsoever happens to a clan of deformed imbeciles in the Dustbowl。 Looking for a better life， they head west to California where more horrible things happen to them， culminating in the family drowning in a rainstorm。 I guess it's better than the movie's ending， at least。Bottom line: You should only read this if your 11th grade English teacher demands it。 In this book， nothing good whatsoever happens to a clan of deformed imbeciles in the Dustbowl。 Looking for a better life， they head west to California where more horrible things happen to them， culminating in the family drowning in a rainstorm。 I guess it's better than the movie's ending， at least。Bottom line: You should only read this if your 11th grade English teacher demands it。 。。。more

flovesbooks ，

When I first started this novel， I knew what to except。 I knew that it was not going to be a happy reading since it was settled during the great depression， but I also knew that it was a classic and that it constituted therefore a necessary step on my reading path。 As I wrote it， the story is settled the Great Depression， an economic scourge which hit harshly the U。S。A。 during the 1930’s and which had tremendous consequences on its population。 The Joad， a family of farmers living in Oklahoma， em When I first started this novel， I knew what to except。 I knew that it was not going to be a happy reading since it was settled during the great depression， but I also knew that it was a classic and that it constituted therefore a necessary step on my reading path。 As I wrote it， the story is settled the Great Depression， an economic scourge which hit harshly the U。S。A。 during the 1930’s and which had tremendous consequences on its population。 The Joad， a family of farmers living in Oklahoma， embody thereupon the failure and misfortune of a whole generation， forced to leave their farms and lives and to move toward California， hopping to find jobs， or at least decent living standards。 We met the Joad as their son， Tom， is released from the prison he has been incarcerated in for 4 years。 When he finds their farm empty， he understands that his return to life will not be the one he has cherished。 Through the pages and their journey on the roads of California we will follow this special yet banal family， trying to survive amid thousands of “Okies”， ready to give anything to receive money to feed their family。 Through the chapters and disillusions， we see the evolution of protagonists who left their home full of hope， and end up sobbing from hopelessness。 The first dozen pages scared me。 The narrative was long， nothing was happening， and the precise descriptions of desert mixed up with long tirades about the meaning of life made me look the 600 pages left with huge apprehension。 Yet， after few pages and the departure from the Joad， the pace of the narrative accelerated， and become very pleasant to read。 By interposing sequences about the special life of the Joad and chapters analysing the situation with broader lenses， John Steinbeck achieves to make his narrative both personal and ever-lasting。 While reading those lines， I couldn’t help thinking about these millions of refugees and migrants today claiming their human right to be employed and to receive money， food， help。It is overall an amazing book。 Don’t expect it to be a happy reading， you might even drop some tears。 It is quite a heart-breaking story， where at each chapter you hope the situation will go better， even though it never actually do。 But it truly deserves both its popularity and those 5 stars。 From the writing of the author to the tragedy of the situation， you will come out of those 600 pages both pleased and saddened， glad to have finished it but also disappointed about the unsatisfactory ending。 。。。more

Leonart ，

Terlalu banyak detail yang enggak berpengaruh ke dalam cerita （too much detail which distracted the storyline）。 3 stars out of 5。

Guadalupe ，

Debo admitir que no fue una lectura realizada por iniciativa propia， era un libro obligatorio que nos dieron en la carrera， en la materia de Antropología Filosófica， sin embargo， puedo destacar que es una novela que deja un gran impacto al denunciar las injusticias que se cometieron， en los años 30， en Estados Unidos， como consecuencia de la crisis y la codicia de unos pocos， unos que se enriquecen enormemente y otros que enferman y mueren por carecer de sus derechos y necesidades más básicas。 L Debo admitir que no fue una lectura realizada por iniciativa propia， era un libro obligatorio que nos dieron en la carrera， en la materia de Antropología Filosófica， sin embargo， puedo destacar que es una novela que deja un gran impacto al denunciar las injusticias que se cometieron， en los años 30， en Estados Unidos， como consecuencia de la crisis y la codicia de unos pocos， unos que se enriquecen enormemente y otros que enferman y mueren por carecer de sus derechos y necesidades más básicas。 La gente humilde lucha por salir adelante， pero un sistema corrupto que prioriza los beneficios de unos cuantos privilegiados permite que la injusticia salga victoriosa， que se paguen unos salarios miserables， y si alguien protesta o se organiza en contra de ello es marginado y eliminado brutalmente。Es muy recomendable para aquellos que sienten curiosidad y hambre de conocimiento a la hora de comprender un poco mejor el drama detrás de la inmigración actual。 。。。more

After Of ，

He abandonado este libro， no porque no me estuviese gustando sino porque llegó un momento en que la historia dejó de importarme， me daba igual lo que le pasase a los personajes。 Sus acciones son coherentes con su situación， procedencia y con lo que es el ser humano。 El autor es del sur de Estados Unidos， de California y la manera de escribir de los autores sureños es muy característica， me gusta mucho esta manera de narrar y las historias que los escritores sureños cuentan， pero con esta en conc He abandonado este libro， no porque no me estuviese gustando sino porque llegó un momento en que la historia dejó de importarme， me daba igual lo que le pasase a los personajes。 Sus acciones son coherentes con su situación， procedencia y con lo que es el ser humano。 El autor es del sur de Estados Unidos， de California y la manera de escribir de los autores sureños es muy característica， me gusta mucho esta manera de narrar y las historias que los escritores sureños cuentan， pero con esta en concreto， he perdido el interés y por eso lo he abandonado。 。。。more

Marie ，

I hated this book when I was forced to read it in High School - many many years ago。 Books are almost always different through my adult （but not necessarily mature） eyes so I really should read it again 。。。 if I can only overcome the block of teen angst that arises every time I think of reading this book the first time。 I did not enjoy reading as a young person and this book did me no favors in the reading appreciation department。 I think this was my most hated forced read 。。。 or perhaps tying w I hated this book when I was forced to read it in High School - many many years ago。 Books are almost always different through my adult （but not necessarily mature） eyes so I really should read it again 。。。 if I can only overcome the block of teen angst that arises every time I think of reading this book the first time。 I did not enjoy reading as a young person and this book did me no favors in the reading appreciation department。 I think this was my most hated forced read 。。。 or perhaps tying with a book about a girl and a horse that I despised so much I've managed to block out its name。 。。。more

Palli Singh ，

There's one thing that sticks with me from this book whenever I think about it， and it's more profound in how it makes me feel rather than the intellectual understanding of it。。。 and that is the way Steinbeck showed how folks tried to help one another even in their worst of times。 That everyone from the main characters， to side characters to non-characters （you'll understand when you read it）， they're all dirt poor， with barely enough for themselves， and yet when they see someone needed help， th There's one thing that sticks with me from this book whenever I think about it， and it's more profound in how it makes me feel rather than the intellectual understanding of it。。。 and that is the way Steinbeck showed how folks tried to help one another even in their worst of times。 That everyone from the main characters， to side characters to non-characters （you'll understand when you read it）， they're all dirt poor， with barely enough for themselves， and yet when they see someone needed help， they give what little they have to help。 It almost brought me to tears any example of this。 These situations were never brought up necessarily in any major plot point in the story， it was just a subtle recurring theme through out。 I loved this book， and I loved the characters and how much warmth there was between them。 "Well， maybe it's like Casy says。 A fellow ain't got a soul of his own， just a little piece of a big soul， the one big soul that belongs to everybody。。。" 。。。more

Ashutosh Acharya ，

When I first saw the topic "The Grapes of wrath"， I figured it would be the story of war。 Some kind of revolution or something。 But， as I went by， I see why Steinbeck named the book so。 The story was an effect。 The effect that could be a cause to something very big and nasty。 When all you want is food and you dont get it。 When you are weak and you cannot rely on anything and rules don't cover you up。 When all you want to eat is the leftovers but the world lets it decay before your eyes then let When I first saw the topic "The Grapes of wrath"， I figured it would be the story of war。 Some kind of revolution or something。 But， as I went by， I see why Steinbeck named the book so。 The story was an effect。 The effect that could be a cause to something very big and nasty。 When all you want is food and you dont get it。 When you are weak and you cannot rely on anything and rules don't cover you up。 When all you want to eat is the leftovers but the world lets it decay before your eyes then let you touch it。 When all you want is to sit down and you dont have a place。 And men take more than they want， and you receive hate for no reason at all。 When market rises high with your needs and wages are cut， then wrath is born。 When a mysterious director moves and takes control of everything and you dont know whom to fight。 You know the consequences， you know the direction but， a fella got to eat。 You cannot undo it， and cannot acpt it but anyway， there is no escape。 You are shut up against big powers of hierarchy and bureaucracy and you dont like anything still you got to work。 Such is fate of capitalism and industrialization。 Wrath is not the cause， it is an effect。 Revolutions and wars， were not always the motive of men who were at the top to fulfil their selfish hunger for land and fame。 It can sometimes be born in every fellas heart as fear and fear is not a cause， its an effect。 And freedom is only possible when fear turns to wrath。 I can see through the book the desperation that drives people。 I can also see why communism rose high。 The book， till the end， never talked about war， but throughout the book I feel， steinbeck was trying hard to make us think and rethink that wrath is the only possible solution to what Joads were facing in California and rules can sometimes be futile when everything serves a faction。In today's context， it might be a taboo to say so but I learned from the book that sometimes it's okay to unite， fight and kill。 And obviously if it wasn't for the language and length， I would have given it five stars。 。。。more

Annslette ，

Must read work。About the great depression of the 1929。

Macy Fleischman ，

The Grapes of Wrath is a story about sacrifices us humans make for the well-being of others and the survival efforts during the Great Depression。 Thought the ideas were great but the story line was very slow moving personally。

Pavan Mehrotra ，

Awesome book， would give it probably 4。5 or 4。75。 The author dives deeply into the characters。 When first reading took a second to adjust to the language but eventually you're emersed in the Joad's world。 I can see why this is considered one of the best novels ever。 Themes of poverty， struggle， and family permeate the book。 Character development and story progression is so good。 Absolutely amazing， vivid imagery of nature and the scenes with characters。 Would definitely recommend reading。 Awesome book， would give it probably 4。5 or 4。75。 The author dives deeply into the characters。 When first reading took a second to adjust to the language but eventually you're emersed in the Joad's world。 I can see why this is considered one of the best novels ever。 Themes of poverty， struggle， and family permeate the book。 Character development and story progression is so good。 Absolutely amazing， vivid imagery of nature and the scenes with characters。 Would definitely recommend reading。 。。。more

David ，

“The book has a definite job to do。。。 I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this。” —Steinbeck Well， he meant business。 A 1939 protest novel and revenge against capitalists and cops， loss leading factory farms， the prison industry， company store servitude， big business encouraging mass migration in order to drive down wages （as always）。 It’s another one of those true-life dystopias like Uncle Tom’s Cabin， with one stagey speech after another （these gruff Okie “The book has a definite job to do。。。 I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this。” —Steinbeck Well， he meant business。 A 1939 protest novel and revenge against capitalists and cops， loss leading factory farms， the prison industry， company store servitude， big business encouraging mass migration in order to drive down wages （as always）。 It’s another one of those true-life dystopias like Uncle Tom’s Cabin， with one stagey speech after another （these gruff Okies are strangely gabby）， methodical tableaus， and periodic incantations à la Walt Whitman or King James。The book is heartfelt and accomplished and you get invested in the characters。 It’s funny， dire， true。 But the stately pace is too slow and the whole somehow academic， displaying less the artist’s economy and more the comprehensiveness of an ethnographer。 3。5 stars。 。。。more

Yvonne Crawford ，

Love

Mrjeffreymiller ，

I had put this classic off because I'd seen the 1940 movie starring Henry Fonda， and listened to the Woody Guthries song Tom Joad。 After reading the book I feel like the movie and the song were just whispers of the book。 In sections when folks refer to the okies as "others" I couldn't help but think how much otherism still exists in the United States。 “You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin' about stuff”Also， I really enjoyed the interweaving of the Joad family's story and observational te I had put this classic off because I'd seen the 1940 movie starring Henry Fonda， and listened to the Woody Guthries song Tom Joad。 After reading the book I feel like the movie and the song were just whispers of the book。 In sections when folks refer to the okies as "others" I couldn't help but think how much otherism still exists in the United States。 “You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin' about stuff”Also， I really enjoyed the interweaving of the Joad family's story and observational text。 It read like poetry and created an overall tapestry of the plight of 'others' who are looking for a better life but are judged harshly by those who have forgotten that they too where of others who came before them。 。。。more

Dreia ，

Steinbeck’s words hit you right in the feels。

christine ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book was like pulling teeth。 Had to read it for an AP English class which I did not， but ended up reading it throughout the year。 So unbearably boring。 Spoiler: baby dies and she feeds a homeless man with her breastmilk。 Yuck。 Just could not believe it was such a big book。 I get that it was supposed to reflect real life but honestly， after how much I loved 'Of Mice and Men' I expected a lot more。 a LOT more。 Would burst into flames if I were forced to read this again。 This book was like pulling teeth。 Had to read it for an AP English class which I did not， but ended up reading it throughout the year。 So unbearably boring。 Spoiler: baby dies and she feeds a homeless man with her breastmilk。 Yuck。 Just could not believe it was such a big book。 I get that it was supposed to reflect real life but honestly， after how much I loved 'Of Mice and Men' I expected a lot more。 a LOT more。 Would burst into flames if I were forced to read this again。 。。。more

Chris Montanari ，

Great book damn。。。 Was going to write a longer review but realized there are probably 1000 that say the exact same thing I would say。 In short， this book is equal parts beautiful， heartwarming， poetic， horrifying， and interesting。 It still resonates massively today， from depictions of poverty and its responses， both from the inside and out， to how American rugged individualism finds its place in desperation， it becomes a portrait of the most kindly to the most disturbing aspects of the human con Great book damn。。。 Was going to write a longer review but realized there are probably 1000 that say the exact same thing I would say。 In short， this book is equal parts beautiful， heartwarming， poetic， horrifying， and interesting。 It still resonates massively today， from depictions of poverty and its responses， both from the inside and out， to how American rugged individualism finds its place in desperation， it becomes a portrait of the most kindly to the most disturbing aspects of the human condition in a struggle for survival。 Set against the backdrop of the plain state migration， you get a sense that the experience described by Steinbeck was more ubiquitous than the fictional tale of one family。 。。。more

Roberto Yoed ，

Another great book that is opaqued by its form and style。In the great scale of things， the ending is worthwhile by its simplicity and profoundness。 Only through mutual help and community we are going to be able to struggle against injustice， inequality and corruption。

Anuka Chitishvili ，

❤️

Biraj Jha ，

amazing book

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Grapes of Wrath

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Grapes of Wrath&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Grapes of Wrath&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0