Reclaiming John Steinbeck: Writing for the Future of Humanity

John Steinbeck is a well-known author in American literature, but Gavin Jones' reevaluation reveals him as a timely thinker who addressed climate change, environmental crisis, and social inequality. Steinbeck's work crossed boundaries to explore consciousness transformations for survival on a precarious planet, addressing urgent concerns for the twenty-first century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 10 June 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

John Steinbeck, a towering figure in twentieth-century American literature, remains one of our least understood writers. In this comprehensive reevaluation by Gavin Jones, we uncover a timely thinker who grappled with the fate of humanity as a species facing climate change, environmental crisis, and a growing divide between the powerful and the marginalized. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Steinbeck's work transcended boundaries, crossing between the United States and the Global South, between human and nonhuman lifeforms, between science and the arts, and between literature and film. Through his exploration, he sought to understand the transformations in consciousness required for our survival on a precarious planet.

Steinbeck's writing is of urgent concern for the twenty-first century, even as he was haunted by the legacies of racism and injustice in the American West. He continually sought new forms to express his ecological and social vision of human interconnectedness and vulnerability, making him a writer of profound relevance in our contemporary world.

This reevaluation of John Steinbeck's work sheds light on his enduring legacy and his ability to inspire and challenge us as we navigate the complexities of our rapidly changing world.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 160 x 235 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108844123