Ratings235
Average rating4.5
Steinbeck considered East of Eden to be his masterpiece. In his journal, Journal of a Novel (often read as a companion to the novel) he notes that “this is the book I have always wanted and have worked and prayed to be able to write Set primarily in the Salinas Valley in the early twentieth century, the novel traces three generations of two families – the Trasks and the Hamiltons – as they grapple with the ever-present forces of good and evil. From this plot emerged some of Steinbeck’s most fascinating characters – many of whom are modeled after people in his own life.
Part allegory, part autobiography, and part epic, East of Eden was an ambitious project from the start – a gift to Steinbeck’s sons that was meant to teach them about identity, grief, and what it means to be human. Tinged with biblical echoes of the fall of Adam and Eve and the rivalry of Cain and Abel, this sprawling saga has captivated audiences everywhere for generations. It is through the popularization of East of Eden that the Salinas Valley was truly transformed into “the valley of the world”; a place where everyone is able to find a piece of themselves in the golden, rolling hills.
([source][1])
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Contains:
- [East of Eden 1/2][2]
- [East of Eden 2/2][3]
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Also contained in:
- [East of Eden / The Wayward Bus][4]
- [The Grapes of Wrath / The Moon is Down / Cannery Row / East of Eden / Of Mice and Men][5]
- [Novels 1942-1952](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15334093W/Novels_1942-1952)
- [Reader's Digest Condensed Books: Spring 1953 Selections](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15158232W)
[1]: http://www.steinbeck.org/about-john/his-works/
[2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17811975W/East_of_Eden_1_2
[3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18023025W/East_of_Eden_2_2
[4]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15138391W/East_of_Eden_The_Wayward_Bus
[5]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL23165W/The_Grapes_of_Wrath_The_Moon_is_Down_Cannery_Row_East_of_Eden_Of_Mice_and_Men
Featured Prompt
2,097 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
Reviews with the most likes.
June ‘10: I just finished re-reading this book—the first time I've read it in four years—and while I loved it, I'm not sure I loved it as much as I thought I did. The elements I loved so much the first time didn't stand out to me this time around.
The theme of ‘thou mayest' will still be the strongest driving force in my overall outlook on life, though.
This and To Kill A Mockingbird are my all-time favorite books. Great plot, fantastic use of language. Read it slow and take it all in.
Ah, East of Eden. Just beautiful. Original sin is such a fascinating concept when you think of it. We are all born in need of forgiveness, and forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give others and ourselves.