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The Grapes of Wrath cover art

The Grapes of Wrath

Written by: John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott
Narrated by: Dylan Baker
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Publisher's Summary

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.

John Steinbeck (1902-68), winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature, is remembered as one of the greatest and best-loved American writers of the 20th century. During the Second World War Steinbeck served as a war correspondent, with his collected dispatches published as Once There Was a War (1958); in 1945 he was awarded the Norwegian Cross of Freedom for his novel The Moon is Down (1942), a portrayal of Resistance efforts in northern Europe. His best-known works include the epics The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952), and his tragic novella Of Mice and Men (1937). John Steinbeck's complete works are published in Penguin Modern Classics. If you liked The Grapes of Wrath, you might enjoy East of Eden, also available in Penguin Classics.

©1939 John Steinbeck (P)2011 Penguin

What the critics say

"It is Steinbeck's best novel, i.e., his toughest and tenderest, his roughest written and most mellifluous, his most realistic and, in its ending, his most melodramatic, his angriest and most idyllic. It is great in the way that Unlce Tom's Cabin was great. One of the most impassioned and exciting books of the year." (Time)

"One comes away moved, indignant, protesting, pitying. A fiery document of protest and compassion, as a story that had to be told, as a book that must be read." (Louis Kronenberger, The Nation)

"A novelist who is also a true poet" (Sunday Times)

What listeners say about The Grapes of Wrath

Average Customer Ratings
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Brought me to tears

Wonderfully written and read. Intriguing and heart wrenching. Vividly captures the sheer brutality and inhumanity of capitalist greed.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great performance,..... but No Climax...?

I probably had high expectations for this book considering i had just read The East Of Eden, my first book by John Steinbeck.,,,,,it ,became one of my favorites
Grapes of Wrath was relatively slower and a longer read. All the time i was hoping there will be a climax where
the anger of the people portrayed to have lost everything in the book was going to lead to a revolt of some sort which would in turn lead to change etc for the greater good of all ..... so for me, i would say it was not my best.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing read masterfully written.

such an amazing story with relevant lessons. its a humbling reflection on past a collapse. I find myself drawing parallels to modern times. I really like the poetic nature of the short setup chapters. Steinbeck brings to life the perrels of this one family and the dynamic struggle of life during their terrible subijgation of capitalist progression.

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Wonderful

It’s no wonder this is an American classic. Beautifully written with the perfect narrator. Loved every minute of this heartfelt story. The bonds of family and friends

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Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant. I always enjoy John Steinbeck’s books, but especially liked this one. I think perhaps it was the pace, not rushing onto the next thing, but moving slowly from moment to moment, painting the scene with his words. Complex characters, beautifully revealed. Poignant. Great narration.

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  • Rob
  • 2019-05-17

Perhaps the best ever..

I finish this book with tears in my eyes. Masterful, simply masterful. Dylan Baker's performance is absolutely STUNNING. A book and performance that will stay with me forever.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great performance, but one issue

a classic book that moves slowly but gets you really attached to the characters. the narrator is just amazing, he somehow manages to make every character's voice distinct despite how many characters there actually are in the story. Truly a great performance.

my only complaint is that in between every chapter, there's a harmonica song that plays as a sort of intermission to the next chapter. the problem is that this harmonica is so much louder than the voice so it can kind of scare you if you're just peacefully listening and ruin the momentum. it would be fine if it were quieter but sometimes it even plays over the last line or two of the chapter and you have to focus to really hear what the narrator is saying because the harmonica is just so piercingly loud. but other than that, if you can bear that one issue, this is one of the best audio books I've listened to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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CLASSIC CLASSIC

We all should remember our first reading of this classic recount of one family's struggle during a most turbulant time. Fantastic, well worth the retake and the memories.

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beautiful book

there is nothing I can say about this book that has never been said. what an incredible work

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Not quite a 5 star for me

Just highlighting why it’s not a 5 star for me...

The harmonica interludes between the different chapters didn’t work for me. I understand what the intent is but it was a bit jarring compared to the narrator’s voice. I would prefer it to be toned down a bit either in volume or pitch.

Book was from a different time. Sometimes the simple nature of the characters were annoying, especially when something is repeated several times. Sometimes I just wish they would get on with it. My impatience could be due to the miserable condition of the characters in the book and my desire for a change of pace.

Otherwise it is good.




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