John Steinbeck Libros

coleccion BIBLIOTECA SIGLO XX, edicion 1976, version española de Vicente de Artadi, 843 paginas, tapa dura con sobrecubierta, en buen estado

La miserable cosecha recogida a consecuencia de la sequía y el acoso de los bancos provoca que la familia Joad abandone sus campos de Oklahoma y se una al éxodo que tantos otros campesinos empobrecidos se han visto obligados a realizar a raíz de la catastrófica situación que en los años 30 atraviesa Estados Unidos. Juntos toman la carretera 66 y ponen rumbo a California, dónde esperan encontrar trabajo y así ganarse el sustento necesario por tal de conquistar un mínimo de dignidad. John Steinbeck también sufrió los efectos de la Gran Depresión, fue testigo del éxodo rural masivo que emigra del norte hacia el sur y tomó en los años 30 partido por los explotados, los jornaleros emigrantes. Las uvas de la ira es la crónica de una familia depauperada en su viaje hacia una tierra de promisión, buscando trabajo y mejores condiciones de vida. Steinbeck sabe trascender lo puramente propagandistico o moralizante cuando unos personajes de ficción llenos de profundidad y humanidad, auténticos luchadores, no dudan en denunciar los abusos del poder y la despiadada crueldad y desamparo que sufren los mas débiles.

Incluye actividades didácticas para la enseñanza de la literatura, con textos auxiliares, análisis literario, etc.

Esta novela breve narra el hallazgo de una perla de incalculable valor y las consecuencias que acarrea a un modesto pescador, Kino, cuyo hijo a sido víctima de la picadura de un escorpión. Sin embargo, el interés de esta novela reside en el enfrentamiento entre dos mundos, el de los ricos y el de los pobres, y en el proceso de cambio en las relaciones humanas en función de la situación económica de las personas. Esto explica que sea una novela ampliamente usada en la escuela para invitar a la reflexión ética. En el centenario de este gran autor era obligado dignificar y poner de nuevo al alcance de los lectores españoles una buena edición en tapa dura de esta pequeña joya literaria.

Used book in good condition, due to its age it could contain normal signs of use

"Traces the migration of an Oklahoma Dust Bowl family to California and their subsequent hardships as migrant farm workers."--Amazon.com.

Presents five works from American writer John Steinbeck, all portraying life in rural California

For John Steinbeck, who hated the telephone, letter-writing was a preparation for work and a natural way for him to communicate his thoughts on people he liked and hated; on marriage, women, and children; on the condition of the world; and on his progress in learning his craft. Opening with letters written during Steinbeck's early years in California, and closing with a 1968 note written in Sag Harbor, New York, Steinbeck: A Life in Letters reveals the inner thoughts and rough character of this American author as nothing else has and as nothing else ever will.

Donated by the estate of Dr. Donald S. Moore.

Collected here for the first time in a deluxe paperback volume are six of John Steinbeck's most widely read and beloved novels. From the tale of commitment, loneliness and hope in Of Mice and Men, to the tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society in Cannery Row, to The Pearl's examination of the fallacy of the American dream, Steinbeck stories of realism, that were imbued with energy and resilience.

The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simple-minded man, calming him and helping to reign in his immense physical strength. .

A collection of letters that forms a day-by-day account of the author's writing of East of Eden. It features many subjects such as textual discussion, trial flights of workmanship, and family matters and offer an illuminating perspective of the author. schovat popis

A final installment of a four-part collection of the classic American writer's works features his later novels, including "The Wayward Bus," "Burning Bright," "Sweet Thursday," and "The Winter of Our Discontent," in a volume that is complemented by his final published account, "Travels with Charley."

// Attention: If no attachments (CDs, booklets etc.) are shown in the photo, they are not included.

In the late 1940s novelist John Steinbeck and photographer Robert Capra forged a travelling partnership that took them beyond the empty polemics of the Cold War into the real Soviet Union, where they reported on the everyday lives of ordinary citizens trying to rebuild their lives and hopes after the devastations of World War II. This book records, in words and pictures, the results of their journeys.

Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of Americas greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books "East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven," and "Tortilla Flat," Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readersand to the many who revisit them again and again.

In Monterey, on the California coast, Sweet Thursday is what they call the day after Lousy Wednesday, which is one of those days that are just naturally bad. Returning to the scene of Cannery Row--the weedy lots and junk heaps and flophouses of Monterey, John Steinbeck once more brings to life the denizens of a netherworld of laughter and tears--from Doc, based on Steinbeck's lifelong friend Ed Ricketts, to Fauna, new headmistress of the local brothel, to Hazel, a bum whose mother must have wanted a daughter. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by Robert DeMott.

A man tries to cultivate a life from the harsh wilderness of a remote valley. He realises too late the power of nature and the futility of man's vanity.

John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath during an astonishing burst of activity between June and October of 1938. Throughout the time he was creating his greatest work, Steinbeck faithfully kept a journal revealing his arduous journey toward its completion.The journal, like the novel it chronicles, tells a tale of dramatic proportions—of dogged determination and inspiration, yet also of paranoia, self-doubt, and obstacles. It records in intimate detail the conception and genesis of The Grapes of Wrath and its huge though controversial success. It is a unique and penetrating portrait of an emblematic American writer creating an essential American masterpiece.

The story of a complex, charismatic & self-effacing man whom many loved but few understood. Granted exclusive access to personal papers, it shares a wealth of previously unpublished lyrics, poetry and letters, and rare and never-before-seen photos. Jake is increasingly recognised as one of the most original artists of the twentieth century

A quest across America, from the northernmost tip of Maine to California’s Monterey Peninsula To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the light—these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, at the age of fifty-eight, to rediscover the country he had been writing about for so many years. With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, encounters bears at Yellowstone and old friends in San Francisco. Along the way he reflects on the American character, racial hostility, the particular form of American loneliness he finds almost everywhere, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

Of Mice and Men revolves around two central characters: Lennie and George. Lennie is a man with the strength of two, but with it the mind of a child - simple, unaffected, and kindly. His whole world centres around George, who steers him through life and protects him when his superhuman strength and child's mind unwittingly entangle him in trouble. Of Cannery Row John Steinbeck said he just 'opened the pages and let the stories crawl in by themselves'. Cannery Row is a street bordered by houses, shacks, and boiler pipes, in which live all kinds of people, good and bad, kind and cruel, the industrious and the idle, who have one thing at least in common - their poverty.

Each title in this series offers an exciting approach to English literature and will help students achieve a better grade. This book is packed with detailed summaries and commentaries, snappy advice, fun facts, and an extended resources section

The final novel of one of America’s most beloved writers presents a tale of degeneration, corruption, and spiritual crisis. In awarding John Steinbeck the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature, the committee noted that with this work, he resumed his role as an independent voice of truth, reflecting what is genuinely American. The protagonist, Ethan Allen Hawley, is a clerk in a grocery store once owned by his family. Now distanced from Long Island’s aristocracy, he faces a restless wife and teenage children yearning for material comforts he cannot provide. In a moment of moral crisis, Ethan chooses to abandon his scrupulous standards. Set in 1960s America, the novel delves into the delicate balance between private and public honesty, standing alongside Steinbeck’s most acclaimed works that offer deep insights into the American experience. This edition features an introduction and notes by leading Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw. For over seventy years, Penguin has been the foremost publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, offering a global collection of over 1,700 titles that include authoritative texts, scholarly introductions, and contemporary translations.

1984 York Notes -- Notes on Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (Paperback)(8.25"x5.6"x0.25") Notes by Martin Stephen *** 9780582781856 ***72 Pages

A guide to reading "The Pearl" with a critical and appreciative mind encouraging analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.

With contributions from writers as diverse as Rudyard Kipling, John Steinbeck, Charles Darwin, Ted Hughes, Ernest Hemingway and Dick King-Smith, this is a collection of over 20 stories and extracts about the animal kingdom.'

Both a fast-paced story of social unrest and strike, and the tale of one young man's struggle for identity, IN DUBIOUS BATTLE is a novel about the apocalyptic violence that breaks out when the masses become the mob. Set in California apple country, a strike by migrant workers spirals out of control, as principled defiance turns into blind fanaticism. Caught in this upheaval is Jim Nolan, a once aimless man who finds himself briefly becoming the leader of the strike before being crushed in its service. IN DUBIOUS BATTLE explores and dramatizes many of the ideas and themes key to Steinbeck's writing.

A Penguin Classic In the two years after the 1939 publication of Steinbeck’s masterful The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck and his novel increasingly became the center of intense controversy and censorship. In search of a respite from the national stage, Steinbeck and his close friend, biologist Ed Ricketts, embarked on a month long marine specimen-collecting expedition in the Gulf of California, which resulted in their collaboration on the Sea of Cortez. In 1951, after Ricketts’ death, Steinbeck reissued his narrative portion of the work in memory of his friend and the inspiration for Cannery Row’s “Doc”. This exciting day-by-day account of their journey together is a rare blend of science, philosophy, and high-spirited adventure. This edition features an introduction by Richard Astro. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Photographs of Americans by various prominent photographers. Commentary by Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck.

Steinbeck's only work of fantasy literature is presented in a deluxe edition featuring a foreword by Christopher Paolini, bestselling author of Eragon. Inspired by Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, which he cherished as a child, Steinbeck modernizes the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He brings to life iconic figures such as King Arthur, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot, weaving enduring narratives of loyalty and betrayal set in Camelot. This retelling captures the wonder and magic of the Arthurian era, appealing to both Steinbeck fans and lovers of fantasy literature. The edition includes letters Steinbeck wrote to his literary agent, Elizabeth Otis, and to Chase Horton, the original editor. For over seventy years, Penguin has been a leading publisher of classic literature, offering a diverse collection of over 1,700 titles. The Penguin Classics series is trusted for its authoritative texts, enhanced by introductions and notes from distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, along with modern translations by award-winning translators.

This story of crisis, passion, love and longing tells about the occupants of a wayward bus, which travels the backroads of the California countryside. There is the driver, hot-blooded and uninhibited, a girl who dances at stag parties, a travelling salesman, a young man and a college girl.

In this masterful account set in Norway during World War II, Steinbeck explores the effects of invasion on both the conquered and the conquerors. Occupied by Nazi troops, a small, peaceable town comes face to face with evil imposed from the outside--and betrayal born within the close-knit community. (2nd work) Set in the California apple country this novel portrays a strike by migrant workers that metamorphoses from principled defiance into blind fanaticism.

Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of Americas greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books "East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven," and "Tortilla Flat," Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readersand to the many who revisit them again and again.

A satire of French politics and American big business, this is the tale of the Frenchman who did not want to be king, of his film-mad daughter Clotilde, and of his chief adviser - a nun who learned about life as a nude in the Follie-Bergere.

"Steinbeck is an artists; and he tells the stories of these lovable thieves and adulterers with a gentle and poetic purity of heart and of prose." —New York Herald Tribune A Penguin Classic Adopting the structure and themes of the Arthurian legend, John Steinbeck created a “Camelot” on a shabby hillside above the town of Monterey, California, and peopled it with a colorful band of knights. At the center of the tale is Danny, whose house, like Arthur’s castle, becomes a gathering place for men looking for adventure, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging—men who fiercely resist the corrupting tide of honest toil and civil rectitude. As Nobel Prize winner Steinbeck chronicles their deeds—their multiple lovers, their wonderful brawls, their Rabelaisian wine-drinking—he spins a tale as compelling and ultimately as touched by sorrow as the famous legends of the Round Table, which inspired him. This edition features an introduction by Thomas Fensch. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

A Penguin Classic “Age can never dull this kind of writing,” writes the Chicago Tribune of John Steinbeck’s dispatches from World War II, filed for the New York Herald Tribune in 1943, which vividly captured the human side of war. Writing from England in the midst of the London blitz, North Africa, and Italy, Steinbeck focuses on the people as opposed to the battles, portraying everyone from the guys in the bomber crew to Bob Hope on his USO tour. He eats and drinks with soldiers behind enemy lines, talks with them, and fights beside them. First published in book form in 1958, these writings, now with a new introduction by Mark Bowden, create an unforgettable portrait of life in wartime that continues to resonate with truth and humanity.

The Pearl: When Kino, an Indian pearl-diver, finds 'the Pearl of the world' he believes that his life will be magically transformed. He will marry Juana in church and their little boy, Coyotito, will be able to attend school. Obsessed by his dreams, Kino is blind to the greed, fear and even violence the pearl arouses in him and his neighbours. The Red Pony: Set on a ranch in the Calidornia mountains this is the story of the joy and sorrow a young boy finds in his responsibility for his horse.

The papers all said he was a fiend. I read all the papers. That's what they all said.' One of America's greatest writers explores mob violence, voyeurism and betrayal in these unforgettable tales of Californian life.

Publisher: Mandarin Date of Publication: 1997 Binding: soft cover Edition: NEW EDITION Condition: Near Fine Description: 074931740X

"Four scenes, four people: the husband who yearns for a son, ignorant of his own sterilty; the wife who commits adultery to fulfill her husband's wish; the father of the child; and the outsider whose actions will affect them all." -- pg 4 of cover

Steinbeck’s first novel and sole work of historical fiction—the violent, exciting story of the infamous pirate Henry Morgan A Penguin Classic From the mid-1650s through the 1660s, Henry Morgan, a pirate and outlaw of legendary viciousness, ruled the Spanish Main. He ravaged the coasts of Cuba and America, striking terror wherever he went. Morgan was obsessive. He had two driving ambitions: to possess the beautiful woman called La Santa Roja and to conquer Panama, the “cup of gold.” Cup of Gold is a lush, lyrical swashbuckling pirate fantasy, and sure to add new dimensions to readers’ perceptions of this all-American writer. This edition features an introduction by Susan F. Beegel. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

“There it lay, the great pearl, perfect as the moon.” Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security.... A story of classic simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale, The Pearl explores the secrets of man's nature, the darkest depths of evil, and the luminous possibilities of love.

[Penguin Active Reading Level 3] "Kino finds a large pearl, which he thinks will save his family from poverty. But the pearl is what they think they want instead of what they need. The misfortune it brings changes the life of the family forever."--P. [4] of cover.

This comprehensive study guide offers an in-depth analysis of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, making it an essential resource for students preparing for their 2024 exams. Endorsed by professors, it covers the author's biography, a detailed summary of the novel, and critical examinations of key themes and the literary movement associated with Steinbeck. With this guide, students will gain a clearer understanding of the novel's complexities and its historical context.

Watterson's musings press the limits of expression. Planck's ultimately small 10-35 meters expands to the Sufi mystic's Nothingness. Feelings expand from Issa's compassion for the fleas on his deathbed to a glimpse of God's anguish at [having to permit] the Holocaust, the price of Israel. In one vignette, Watterson pictures the cosmos, endless universes, as dust particles at 30,000 feet disappear in the troposphere. What is the effect? The effect, he says, is something like finding a long-lost reference. Or of having stumbled on the right person just now to tell about a rare instance of moral bravery in his youth. The effect might be that just now innumerable originals of Beethoven are dipping their quills in ink and starting the seventh symphony. One need only imagine and listen.

A collection of 4 US novels, published in Steinbeck - Of men and miceJames Jones - The pistolReynolds Price - A long and lappy lifeJohn Updike - Of the farm

Pubblicato nel 1939, "Furore" è subito divenuto il romanzo simbolo della Grande Depressione americana. Nell'odissea della famiglia Joad, in penosa marcia, come migliaia e migliaia di americani, è ripercorsa la storia delle grandi, disperate migrazioni interne, lungo la Highway 66, verso lo sfruttamento, la miseria, la fame: un quadro potente e amaro di una dura Terra promessa dove la manodopera era sfruttata e mal pagata, dove ciascuno portava con sè la propria miseria "come un marchio di infamia". John Steinbeck (1902-1968) fu insignito del Premio Nobel nel 1962. "Furore" è anche un film del 1940, diretto da John Ford, con la sceneggiatura scritta dallo stesso Steinbeck, che ha ricevuto due premi oscar nel 1941. L'American Film Institute l'ha inserito al 24° posto tra i 100 migliori film americani di tutti i tempi.

Ovocie hnevu je román Johna Steinbecka z roku 1939. Už v roku 1940 zaň Steinbeck dostal Pulitzerovu cenu. Horlivo sa o ňom diskutovalo po celých Spojených štátoch a v niektorých štátoch bolo dokonca zakázané. Je to príbeh rodiny Joadovcov - chudobných farmárov vyhnaných z ich zeme počas Veľkej hospodárskej krízy. Tento román patrí medzi klasiku svetovej literatúry a najväčšie diela sociálnej literatúry. Naturalistické detaily, sugestívne opisy postáv, lyrizmus a symbolizmus sú hlavnými črtami tohto diela. Steinbeck mal však nezvyčajný problém a to vymyslieť názov pre tento román. S názvom Ovocie hnevu prišla jeho žena Carol a dá sa povedať, že nič lepšie vymyslieť ani nemohla. Napriek pochybnostiam samostného Steinbecka dielo sa stalo najpopulárnejším spomedzi jeho sedemnástich novie

Novela známého amerického autora líčí baladický příběh dvojice potulných zemědělských dělníků, jejich sen o malém hospodářství, na které si chtějí vydělat a ušetřit nádenickou prací na ranči...

Dvě novely, v nichž se dokonale obráží spisovatelovo porozumění pro člověka a schopnost proniknout k jeho nejvlastnější lidské podstatě. První (O myších a lidech, 1937) vypráví o dvojici přátel, kteří putují za prací i nakonec za tragicky rozbitým životním snem, druhá (Na plechárně, 1945) je vlastně pestrým sledem obrázků ze života obyvatel ulice v konzervárenské čtvrti města na kalifornském pobřeží.

Svazek obsahuje dvě Steinbeckovy novely (O myších lidech, 1937; Plameny zářivé, 1950). O myších a lidech: Dva nemajetní zemědělští dělníci přicházejí ve 30. letech 20. století pracovat na farmu do salinaského údolí. Každý z nich má jinou povahu, oba však spřádají sny a iluze, že jednou se jim podaří mít své vlastní hospodářství a budou tam chovat králíky. Doba je hodně zlá; a nejhorší se teprve rýsuje. Ochranářský a prozíravý George správně tuší, že slaboduchý silák Lennie by nechtě mohl způsobit katastrofu... Plameny zářivé: Joe Saul je muž v nejlepších letech, jemuž ke štěstí chybí jen to jediné dítě. Kvůli své neplodnosti prožívá hlubokou lidskou krizi. V době, kdy neexistovali anonymní dárcové a spermobanky, je pouze jedna možnost, jak se dočkat vysněného potomka náhradní partner. Je to cesta nejprostší, ale zároveň i nejtěžší. Jak se s nesnadnou situací vyrovnají Joe, jeho žena Mordeen a „plemenný býk“ Viktor?

Nowe wydania niezwykłych opowieści ulubionego pisarza Ameryki. „Pastwiska Niebieskie” oraz „Nieznanemu bogu” to historie o dwudziestowiecznej Kalifornii i jej mieszkańcach, którzy poszukują swojego miejsca w świecie, mierząc się z lękami i namiętnościami. Zebrane w „Pastwiskach Niebieskich” historie łączy rodzina Munroe. Niewrażliwość członków familii prowadzi do kolejnych tragedii i rozpadu niegdyś harmonijnej społeczności. Tymczasem główny bohater „Nieznanemu bogu”, Joseph Wayne, zaczyna wierzyć, że drzewo na należącej do niego farmie zawiera w sobie duszę jego ojca. Kiedy jeden z braci Josepha decyduje się je ściąć, w gospodarstwie rozpoczyna się okres chorób i głodu. W trzeciej opowieści Henry Morgan, kiedyś młody człowiek marzący o przygodach, a teraz okrutny pirat i wyrzutek, ma dwie ambicje: zdobyć piękną kobietę imieniem La Santa Roja i podbić opływającą w bogactwo Panamę. „Złota Czara”, bo to o niej mowa, jest debiutem Steinbecka i gratką dla każdego fana powieści historycznej. John Steinbeck(1902–1968) – amerykański powieściopisarz, laureat literackiej Nagrody Nobla w 1962 r. za „realistyczny i poetycki dar, połączony z subtelnym humorem i ostrym widzeniem spraw społecznych”. Jego najbardziej znane powieści to „Grona gniewu”, „Myszy i ludzie” i „Na wschód od Edenu”.

Der rote Pony und andere Erzählungen - bk917; Steinberg Verlag; John Steinbeck; Paperback; 1945

Ventisei avvincenti racconti di maestri del giallo come Lawrence Block, Agatha Christie, John Steinbeck e Ruth Rendell, tutti uniti da un tema comune: il gioco. Queste storie esplorano come il gioco influisca in modo determinante o "definitivo" sulle vite dei protagonisti, a volte persino mettendo in gioco la loro esistenza. Che si tratti di scacchi, bridge o poker, il risultato ha un costo, e il lettore è invitato a scoprire i finali sorprendenti. Gli intrecci coinvolgenti permettono di immedesimarsi nei personaggi, rendendo la lettura fluida e, in alcuni casi, inquietante, con brividi assicurati. In "La scelta del mazziere" di Forrest V. Perrin, si intrecciano diamanti e rischi; in "Il giocatore di dadi" di John Steinbeck, un uomo fortunato affronta un imprevisto; "Il Circolo dello Scarabeo" di J. P. Cohane gioca con fantasmi e rivelazioni inquietanti; "Il pedone avvelenato" di Henry Slesar presenta una sfida tra campioni; "Il nuovo padrone" di Lord Dunsany introduce una macchina da scacchi che si rivela mostruosa; infine, "Vita, morte e indovinelli" di Robert Loy coinvolge enigmi e scommesse. In "Il Circolo dei Giocatori d’azzardo" di Ellery Queen, un caso anomalo mette alla prova l'ingegno del detective.

In der Cannery Row in Monterey leben Gelegenheitsarbeiter, Sonderlinge und Außenseiter in alten Lagerhallen und ausrangierten Gegenständen. Sie treffen sich im Kramladen von Lee Chong und in Kneipen, während sie unter dem Blick der ordentlichen Bürger leben. Ein Höhepunkt ist eine überraschende Party für den einsiedlerischen Meeresbiologen „Doc“.

Die ultimative Abrechnung mit dem menschenverachtenden US-Kapitalismus John Steinbecks letzter Roman ist ein bis heute gültiges Lehrstück über Geld und Moral: Sein Protagonist Ethan Hawley, Hätschelkind der Finanzaristokratie von Long Island, muss sich um materielle Dinge nicht sorgen – bis ihn die Pleite seines Vaters plötzlich zwingt, auf eigenen Beinen zu stehen. Um Frau und Kinder ernähren zu können, tritt er eine schlechtbezahlte Stelle als Verkäufer in einem Lebensmittelladen an. Rasch erkennt jedoch er, dass redliches Tagwerk einen Mann nicht weiterbringt. Unter dem Einfluss seiner Frau und dem seines Bankberaters entledigt er sich aller Menschlichkeit und steigt zum skrupellosen Geschäftsmann auf, der ohne Rücksicht auf andere nur den eigenen Vorteil sucht.