About the book: 1987 / Written on the basis of direct personal impressions, Steinbeck’s book was a response to the sharp aggravation of the socio-economic situation in the United States in the late 30s. In the summer of 1937, many central states west of the middle Mississippi were struck by severe drought, accompanied by weathering "dust storms." Thousands of bankrupt farmers and tenants left their homes. Thus arose a huge wave of settlers, migrating agricultural workers seeking shelter and earnings in the valleys of the “golden state” of California. Capturing the events and social meaning of this “migration of peoples,” The Grapes of Wrath quickly gained national fame as a symbol of the anti-capitalist protest that permeated the public atmosphere of the United States during the unforgettable period of the “Red Decade.” The strength and clarity of expression of progressive ideas at its best Steinbeck's novel benefits greatly from its original composition. The epic narrative of the trials befalling the settlers is matched by smaller interlude chapters that provide a platform for the author to openly express thoughts and feelings. “The Grapes of Wrath” is a militant, revealing work that occupies an outstanding place in progressive world literature, imbued with the spirit of liberation ideas . Truthfully reproducing the situation of the late 30s, the American writer managed to capture the shades of general discontent and disappointment characteristic of various segments of the population.