The Critical Response to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath

When it was initially published in 1939, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath instantly became a bestseller. Like many phenomenally popular works, it has elicited a wide range of critical responses. Some critics have attacked Steinbeck for his alleged sentimentalism, while others have praised him for writing a great American epic. While modern critics have generally responded positively toward his novel, they have done so at a time when its place in the American literary canon is increasingly uncertain. Through reviews, previously published essays, and original material, this volume records the critical reception of The Grapes of Wrath up to the recent editions of the 1990s. The volume additionally includes a chronology, bibliography, and extensive introductory essay.