East of Eden

By John Steinbeck

A masterpiece of Biblical scope, and the magnum opus of one of America’s most enduring authors, in a commemorative hardcover edition
 
In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden "the first book," and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California's Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

The masterpiece of Steinbeck’s later years, East of Eden is a work in which Steinbeck created his most mesmerizing characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence. Adapted for the 1955 film directed by Elia Kazan introducing James Dean, and read by thousands as the book that brought Oprah’s Book Club back, East of Eden has remained vitally present in American culture for over half a century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Feb 5, 2002
• ISBN: 9781440631320

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck (Salinas, 1902 - Nueva York, 1968). Narrador y dramaturgo estadounidense. Estudió en la Universidad de Stanford, pero desde muy joven tuvo que trabajar duramente como albañil, jornalero rural, agrimensor o empleado de tienda. En la década de 1930 describió la pobreza que acompañó a la Depresión económica y tuvo su primer reconocimiento crítico con la novela Tortilla Flat, en 1935. Sus novelas se sitúan dentro de la corriente naturalista o del realismo social americano. Su estilo, heredero del naturalismo y próximo al periodismo, se sustenta sin embargo en una gran carga de emotividad en los argumentos y en el simbolismo presente en las situaciones y personajes que crea, como ocurre en sus obras mayores: De ratones y hombres (1937), Las uvas de la ira (1939) y Al este del Edén (1952). Obtuvo el premio Nobel en 1962.

Reviews for East of Eden

[novelcommentary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt—and there is the story of mankind."Somewhere around the early eighties, I read pretty much everything Steinbeck had written and I taught The Pearl and Of Mice and Men to my high school freshmen, but I never got around to East of Eden. Recently when I read that Steinbeck considered it his magnum opus, I realized I had one more to read. I'm hear to say I am wiser and more thoughtful for the experience. Sam Hamilton lives on a barely farmable ranch where he philosophizes about life and enjoys hard work and the company of others. He is in fact John Steinbeck's maternal grandfather, whose daughter Olive gave birth to our author in nearby Salinas. Sam has a large family and most of his children move on to other adventures in this time right before and during the First World War. The second narrative revolves around Adam Trask, whose father, Cyrus was a con man and military historian. He had two sons, Charles and later Adam who are very different.( Notice the same initials of Cain and Abel). The brothers inherit a good deal of money when their father passes but go their separate ways when Adam falls in love with a beaten girl named Cathy appears at their door. Adam takes her in and nurses her back to health as he falls in love, while Charles sees her for what she is, and let me tell you she is evil, without a soul."Cathy Ames was born with the tendencies, or lack of them, which drove and forced her all of her life. Some balance wheel was misweighted, some gear out of ratio. She was not like other people, never was from birth. And just as a cripple may learn to utilize his lack so that he becomes more effective in a limited field than the uncrippled, so did Cathy, using her difference, make a painful and bewildering stir in her world." After she has regained her strength from the beating she received from her past pimp, Adam decides to marry her and take her away to California. The night before she reluctantly leaves, she sneaks into Charles' room and sleeps with him. They both recognize each other for their true nature. And so twin sons are born, Cal and Aron and again the Cain and Abel story takes on another telling. When Adam winds up in a ranch near Sam Hamilton, he hires Sam to dig a well and they become fast friends. Adam has a Chinese servant, named Lee, who helps around the house, cooks and raises the boys. Lee is a classic literary figure, wise and thoughtful and is central to the understanding of the famous biblical story that this novel retraces. There are many other smaller characters of interest, Sam's sons, Will who can't help but make money, and Tom, who struggles to remain on the unproductive farm. The second part of the novel centers more on Cal and Aron as they grow up and of course there is a girl, Abra, who they both love. She is kind and mature and sees all the good in Aron, but sometimes wonders whether she would be better suited for his brother. Needless to say I loved reading this novel which only increased my long felt admiration for the author. Characters are used so that the moral philosophy of the man can be illuminated."We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never-ending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is."That says it all. Highly recommend

[tominphilly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Breathtaking.

[scaryguy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great story as well as wonderfully poetic prose. My copy (Viking) skipped about 30 pages so that stank, but the book itself is superb!

[ainjel-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I feel like anyone who reads this book is going to say it's their favourite book.

It's absolutely stunning.

It has some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read, and it truly does feel as alive: from the characters to the lavish landscape. I feel speechless, like nothing I say can ever convey how special this story is.

It's Genesis, but it's not. It's Genesis for the modern age. It's life, written down.

I call it a family epic, because that's what it is. It's two families, and you follow them through their lives, some from birth to death. You see how they become who they are, and you see how the sins of the parents get passed down to the children. How your history can shape you, but it doesn't need to define you.

And of course, everything that needs to be said is summed up in one single word: Timshel.

I don't know what to say other than read this novel. It's everything a book should be.

[larryerick · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

By my count, this is the sixth book I've read by this author. It is not the best. To be fair, it's not much like any of the others. A couple of the books I read were what I might call "values clarification" novels, telling a relatively simple tale with a moral to be studied. A couple were social consciousness tomes (and probably his best works, though, I admit it being quite some time ago that I read both of them, so my current day assessment might be a much more nuanced and thus very different in a rereading.) One was pseudo-non-fictional, meaning he shamefully let his writer's creativity overwhelm the facts he was presenting. This book? Epic? Or just long? It's certainly an attempt at a grand tale. Primarily, it is a lengthy history of a family with two very different brothers and then about one of those two brothers and his own two very different sons. Mixed up through the first part of the book is an obvious homage to a remarkably likeable character and not coincidentally the author's maternal grandfather. (Back to that mixing facts with fiction.) Unfortunately, the significant reverence manifested for this character serves as rather a meek connection to the main story. If I were to describe this book simply, I would compare it to a slightly above average man in an ill-fitting suit. The author of another book I'm currently reading gave me a somewhat more concise phrase that I think applies: squishy. Perhaps, the most telling thing I can say about this book is that, despite being able to vividly recall many scenes throughout the book, even though I finished the book just four days ago, I cannot, for the life of me, recall exactly how it ends -- and I don't intend to go back and look. It's just not worth my effort.

[baystatera · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

East of Eden struck me as true to life, even with all the biblical allusions and parallels, because of the way that the lives of the main characters – Adam, Aron, and Cal – are shown to us with the attendant characters playing a large role and then disappearing from the story – even dying – or going away and eventually coming back. Most of us don’t go through life with the same people playing the same role the whole time, right?I think East of Eden would appeal to family saga readers for the way it shows the passing of generations of a single family and its moments of high drama and long stretches of calm. Readers who like to delve into the psychology of the characters would also like it, with all the passages about personality traits, behavior, and heredity.If you haven’t read it, don’t let the length of it scare you off! It’s a pretty fast-moving story. The biblical aspects we all keep mentioning are “bible as literature”-type references, so don’t let that scare you off either. The tone of East of Eden is agnostic, I would say -- not preachy.See Bay State Reader's Advisory for longer version of review.

[catalogme_76 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

sibling rivalry, death, prostitution, evil, good, family, California farming, love, sacrifice, commitment

[jennifyr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An instant favorite, I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. Filled with characters you love, hate, and grow attached to. John Steinbeck is a beautiful writer, and creates engaging stories you want to share with everyone you meet. I tore through this book quickly, in a matter of four days or so and it's one I would read again and again. The character of Lee was amazing, and I wish I could conjure him into reality so he would be my own personal life guru. There are parts of this book that are truly infuriating, because Steinbeck creates such true to life scenarios, but there are also parts of this book that are heartbreaking, touching, joyous, and warm. For those who have read the book, will know what I mean when I say that the moment towards the end, between Lee and Abra shared over tarts was truly touching and possibly my favorite moment.This is one of those books that I will give a special place on my shelf. I am overjoyed as well that I got the edition that has the parchment type paper that I love so much. I am so much a bibliophile, and there is nothing like the way a thick book feels when you hold it in your hands and curl up under a blanket to read. This is definitely, instantly, one of my favorite books I have ever read.

[breic-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It starts slow, but picks up a lot of speed. The writing is enjoyable, and the characters are fascinating. I felt guilty reading. Steinbeck toys with his characters, sticking them with needles and making them suffer, so that they can have profound conversations. It is like a science fiction novel, based on the premise that deep down every conversation has to be about the meaning of life. Natural dialog? Not at all. But satisfying.

[chwiggy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has to be one of the best novels, I've ever read. True, it's a big commitment, but the sprawling storyline and the charcter devolpment give this story an unprecedented depth.

[over.the.edge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was one I will never forget.....

[cassandrat-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn't enjoy reading this book. The way everything ended made little sense to me. Aaron Trask just seems pathetic. I like the idea that we are all just people... but I don't think that message is particularly strong.. despite saying it over and over. I like Steinbeck's writing style, but this story just feels messy and unpolished.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A magnificent sprawl of a story, covering decades in a family saga, crime drama and theological study. I've always liked Steinbeck, but my appreciation increases as I get older. I really need to seek out some of his other works that I've neglected to read.

[saresmoore · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful.

[ghr4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

John Steinbeck's East of Eden, a work of great wisdom, rests comfortably among the finest works in American literature. This epic multi-generational saga of the Trask and Hamilton families is beautifully written and spellbinding throughout. Steinbeck, as evidenced therein, is a master of language, plot, pacing, dialogue, and character. The book is filled with insights into human nature: the events and emotions that shape one's character, and simple yet profound truths about humanity at large. Steinbeck has created deeply nuanced, flawed, and thoroughly human characters. But the heart of East of Eden lies in its exploration of family relationships, particularly those of father and son, and sibling rivalries, of course drawing heavily on the biblical story of Cain and Abel. It is the ancient tale of good versus evil, but Steinbeck takes it one step further, illuminating that that conflict that lies within each of us, and that we all have the freedom of choice. Timshel: thou mayest.

[vinjii-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a wonderful book.This is the first time I've picked up Steinbeck without school prompting me to, and I was blown away. The prose is so lovely, I didn't want to stop reading. The characters are vivid and the themes varied.Anyone who likes to dip into the Classics should read this book at some point in their lives. It's definitely worth it.

[thewasp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of the Trask family over 3 generations during the end of the 19th century up to WW I. A moving story with exquisite writing.

[maryreinert · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I slogged through all 602 pages of this tome about some really unlikable people just to see why it's such a classic. I have loved other Steinbeck books, but this is long and tiresome. Too long just to make a point that we as humans have been given free will.I'm familiar enough with the Genesis story so could see the parallel, but did he have to spend that much time on so many details and no many seemingly unrelated events to retell it.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Knappe epische roman, een echte familiesage, gecentreerd rond een broer-broer en vader-zoon relatie. Gesitueerd eind 19de, begin 20ste eeuw. Op het einde versnelt het ritme aanzienlijk en worden niet alle verhaallijnen goed uitgewerkt!

[kathryngrace_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant. Changed my life.

[athene1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully-written, thought-provoking.

[jameshold-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

There's a story in here somewhere. And it definitely ain't that awful James Dean movie about shipping vegetables on a train. But JS tosses in so many philosophical sidebars and other irrelevant comments that it's almost like he's challenging you to give up on it. I did finish the thing, and the actual story was okay (not good, but all right), but I really don't know if it was worth the effort to get there.

[julierh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

remarkably engaging

[sonorandreamer-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A well written book, deserving of its status. Since so much has been written about all that, I'm going to focus on what I didn't like. I was disappointed that most of the women in this story didn't have personalities. We never got to see inside their heads, except for the woman who was a psychopath. I'd like to hear more about the women's lives in this story. For example, what was it like to be a strong hard working woman who was married to an intelligent interesting man who still was wishing he was with some long ago woman? I'd like to hear more about Dessie's life. Her cheerfulness in such a bleak world makes me curious about her. I didn't like the way this book made me think of women as background creatures, people who are rarely seen as actual human beings. It made me wish I was a man, and I don't wish I was a man. Too often stories focus on the lives of men and this is another of them. It is a well written and interesting book but as a woman I'd rather read books that show women as real and interesting people.

[maxernst11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Knappe epische roman, een echte familiesage, gecentreerd rond een broer-broer en vader-zoon relatie. Gesitueerd eind 19de, begin 20ste eeuw. Op het einde versnelt het ritme aanzienlijk en worden niet alle verhaallijnen goed uitgewerkt!

[50minutemermaid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just brilliant.

[violetbramble · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Steinbeck's family saga that's rooted in a retelling of the Genesis story. The story follows two families in the Salinas Valley of California. The Trasks, relocated from Connecticut, are wealthy and own a large farm. Shortly after the birth of their twin boys, Aron and Caleb, Cathy Trask shoots her husband Adam and leaves him. She returns to her previous profession, prostitution. Adam is a broken man. Luckily, Adam has a Chinese man servant, Lee, who raises the boys and essentially becomes the mother of the Trask household. The Hamilton family emigrated from Ireland and are poor farmers and inventors living on land with poor soil. Sam Hamilton is known in the county for giving the best advice. The Trask and Hamilton families become friends and their stories intertwine. Sam Hamilton was actually John Steinbecks' maternal grandfather. John Steinbeck (as a child) actually makes an appearance in 3 or 4 later chapters and is occasionally narrating the story. This is a story of good vs evil and whether people are born evil or good or have free will to choose.This is a brilliant book, beautiful, descriptive, sad and hopeful. It took me two months of bedtime reading to finish this book but it is definitely a book that should be read slowly and savored. Highly recommended.

[lnuenke-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just LOVED this book. I read it in 2 or 3 days. For a book this length I usually take a week or so. I just could NOT put it down. So intriguing. Wonderful storytelling. Fabulous saga. Such a valuable lesson to be learned. When I was reading I could see how the characters were repeating the actions of their forebears. They couldn't see it themselves though. I wanted to yell at them. I love Steinbeck. This is one of his masterpieces. Do I dare watch the movie now?

For parents, talk to teens when/if they read it. It's a great book but there are some areas that would be best with a discussion. I see why it was put on censored lists in the past. Don't let that stop you from reading it though.

[hcubic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wrote a college paper on this novel, wherein I said that Steinbeck was "heavy-handed" in naming all of his Cain characters with names starting in C and all of the Abel characters with A. Kinda cheeky.

[nataliec7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. John Steinbeck's writing has caused me great joy! I love the descriptive nature of the book, the character development, the story of the many people, the depth of things it explores...I feel like I could review this book in great detail and still not get across how good I felt it was, so i'm not going to try. It is definitely worth reading.