John Steinbeck

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John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was a famous American author who wrote from the 1920 to the 1940. Steinbeck was constantly moving across the country trying to succeed as a writer. John Steinbeck lived a life of constant up and downs, successes and failures before he landed on his feet and became a famous author.

John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California on February 27, 1902. He was the only son and the third child of John Ernst Steinbeck and Olive Hamilton. Steinbeck's father owned comfortable Victorian house in Salinas. John's father managed the Sperry Flour Mill. Things were pretty good for the Steinbeck, they were settled in a nice home they did not have to many financial problems, but then economic difficulties forced John's father dismissal from the mill. Steinbeck's father deiced to open a feed and grain store and go into business himself. The store struggled to survive and eventually failed completely. A close friend of John's father got him a job as an account for the Spreckles Sugar Company. "Although he had a job, John's father was extremely devastated by the lose of his business"(Stephen)

"Encouraged by his parents John began to develop a love literature"(Morrow). At his ninth birthday John received a copy of the book Morte d'Arthur. This was the first book John ever owned. He later said it was a great influence upon his life. During his years at Salinas High School, John excelled in English. At the end of his Freshman year in High School John had determined that he wanted to become a writer.

At the end of his Senior year John applied to Stanford University and was accepted as an English major. Coming of his success in high school John felt very confidante that he would succeed. To pay for his education John went to school half a year and worked the other half. John found college boring and felt that he was a "writer in training"(Ito, 14) not a college student. After six...
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