Novels:
* The Grapes of Wrath (1939): This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of the Joad family, who flee their dustbowl home in Oklahoma during the Great Depression and journey to California in search of a better life. It's considered one of the greatest American novels and a powerful indictment of social injustice.
* Of Mice and Men (1937): This novella tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant workers who dream of owning their own ranch. It explores themes of friendship, loneliness, and the American Dream.
* East of Eden (1952): This epic novel spans generations of the Trask family in California's Salinas Valley. It's a sweeping tale of good and evil, love and loss, and the struggle for redemption.
* Tortilla Flat (1935): This humorous novel tells the story of a group of paisanos in Monterey, California. It's a charming and poignant portrait of life in the Salinas Valley.
* The Pearl (1947): This novella tells the story of Kino, a poor pearl diver who finds a magnificent pearl. It explores themes of greed, poverty, and the corrupting power of wealth.
Other Notable Works:
* Cannery Row (1945): This novella tells the story of a group of misfits who live in a Monterey cannery town.
* The Red Pony (1937): This novella tells the story of Jody Tiflin, a young boy growing up in the Salinas Valley.
* The Winter of Our Discontent (1961): This novel tells the story of Ethan Allen Hawley, a descendant of a prominent family who has fallen on hard times.
These are just a few of Steinbeck's most well-known and celebrated works. He was a prolific writer, and his novels and short stories continue to be read and enjoyed by millions around the world.