Of Men And Their Making: The Selected Non-Fiction Of John Steinbeck

While John Steinbeck is acknowledged as one of the greatest American novelists of the twentieth century, less is known about his non-fiction. This superb collection, some pieces published here for the fist time, reflects Steinbeck's sense of social concern and deep political and moral engagement with the world around him.

In articles written for newspapers, magazines, essays and war dispatches he takes on many of the vital issues of the day: the environment, poverty, moral decline, war, racism, ethnicity.

Adopting a remarkably varied authorial voice - alternately realistic, witty, impressionistic and impassioned - he writes as easily about the effect of the Blitz on London, or the horrors endured by migrant workers in California as he does about his relationship with Henry Fonda, or about life as an American in Paris. The result is a captivating series of snapshots from a writer who is compassionate, funny and deeply sceptical of power and privilege.