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East of Eden (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) Paperback – January 1, 1952

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22,286 ratings

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A masterpiece of Biblical scope, and the magnum opus of one of America’s most enduring authors

A Penguin Classic 

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.

This edition features an introduction by David Wyatt.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

By the Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

“A novel planned on the grandest possible scale . . . One of those occasions when a writer has aimed high and then summoned every ounce of energy, talent, seriousness, and passion of which he was capable. . . . It is an entirely interesting and impressive book.”
The New York Herald Tribune

“A fantasia and myth . . . A strange and original work of art.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A moving, crying pageant with wilderness strengths.” —Carl Sandburg

“When the book club ended a year ago, I said I would bring it back when I found the book that was moving . . . and this is a great one. I read it for myself for the first time and then I had some friends read it. And we think it might be the best novel we've ever read!” —Oprah Winfrey

About the Author

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) born in Salinas, California, grew up in a fertile agricultural valley, about twenty-five miles from the Pacific Coast. Both the valley and the coast would serve as settings for some of his best fiction. In 1919 he went to Stanford University, where he intermittently enrolled in literature and writing courses until he left in 1925 without taking a degree. During the next five years he supported himself as a laborer and journalist in New York City, all the time working on his first novel, Cup of Gold (1929).

After marriage and a move to Pacific Grove, he published two California books,
The Pastures of Heaven (1932) and To a God Unknown (1933), and worked on short stories later collected in The Long Valley (1938). Popular success and financial security came only with Tortilla Flat (1935), stories about Monterey’s paisanos. A ceaseless experimenter throughout his career, Steinbeck changed courses regularly. Three powerful novels of the late 1930s focused on the California laboring class: In Dubious Battle (1936), Of Mice and Men (1937), and the book considered by many his finest, The Grapes of Wrath (1939). The Grapes of Wrath won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1939.

Early in the 1940s, Steinbeck became a filmmaker with
The Forgotten Village (1941) and a serious student of marine biology with Sea of Cortez (1941). He devoted his services to the war, writing Bombs Away (1942) and the controversial play-novelette The Moon is Down (1942). Cannery Row (1945), The Wayward Bus (1948), another experimental drama, Burning Bright (1950), and The Log from the Sea of Cortez (1951) preceded publication of the monumental East of Eden (1952), an ambitious saga of the Salinas Valley and his own family’s history.

The last decades of his life were spent in New York City and Sag Harbor with his third wife, with whom he traveled widely. Later books include
Sweet Thursday (1954), The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication (1957), Once There Was a War (1958), The Winter of Our Discontent (1961),Travels with Charley in Search of America (1962), America and Americans (1966), and the posthumously published Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters (1969), Viva Zapata! (1975), The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976), and Working Days: The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath (1989).

Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, and, in 1964, he was presented with the United States Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Steinbeck died in New York in 1968. Today, more than thirty years after his death, he remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0140186395
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (January 1, 1952)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 602 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780140186390
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140186390
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 700L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.7 x 5 x 1.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22,286 ratings

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John Steinbeck
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John Steinbeck (1902-1968), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, achieved popular success in 1935 when he published Tortilla Flat. He went on to write more than twenty-five novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

Photo by JohnSteinbeck.JPG: US Government derivative work: Homonihilis (JohnSteinbeck.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
22,286 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They praise the descriptive writing style and rich, nuanced characters. The stories cross generations and relate to contemporary society. Readers appreciate Steinbeck's insightful writing that teaches valuable lessons about human nature. The storyline explores the complex themes of good and evil in society.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,028 customers mention "Readability"980 positive48 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it well-written and engaging, providing a deep journey with an epic narrative. Readers describe the story as complex and incredible.

"...Starting from the opening chapter, Steinbeck's style is exceptionally vivid. You feel you are right there in all the beauty of the Salinas Valley...." Read more

"...of characters created by Steinbeck creates a complex and intricate balance in the novel; the actions of one character will undoubtedly affect all of..." Read more

"...should not give away too much about a story so know that this book is complex and full of showing to build each character through their deeds and..." Read more

"...As always, the characters and the scenes are carefully, richly drawn, and believable. I find the most recurring themes are:..." Read more

354 customers mention "Writing quality"309 positive45 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They appreciate Steinbeck's bright language and humor. The descriptions are like prose poems of moments and places, seasons, and rhythms. Readers find the narrative easy to read, with nuanced characters that speak most readily to them. However, some readers mention the plot twists and turns require close attention to detail.

"...novel's strengths: the depth of its characters, and the power and universality of its themes, some things in the book are blemishes on its greatness...." Read more

"...East of Eden, like all of Steinbeck's novels, is full of descriptive passages that are essential in establishing the setting for the novel...." Read more

"...This is true apparently due to his understanding of human nature and his eloquent and expressive use of language, also outstanding...." Read more

"...Iindeed much is autobiographical. The book opens with a beautiful description of Steinbeck's beloved Salinas Valley...." Read more

234 customers mention "Character development"208 positive26 negative

Customers appreciate the rich and nuanced characters in Steinbeck's book. They find the sweeping portraits realistic and the story and characters stay with them long after the book ends. Some say Cathy is the best character and the one who propels the story. The lives of characters and sets of characters merge and intersect, and Steinbeck portrays evil and profound love with fearlessness. Readers appreciate the psychological insights and warmth of Steinbeck's writing.

"...The novel includes some of the most intensely developed characters in all of literature. Their interactions are complex and full of genuine dilemmas...." Read more

"...The highly complex, but relatable characters will surely find a way to sneak into one's heart and become a conscious reminder of ethical behavior...." Read more

"...about a story so know that this book is complex and full of showing to build each character through their deeds and many actions toward one another..." Read more

"...As always, the characters and the scenes are carefully, richly drawn, and believable. I find the most recurring themes are:..." Read more

163 customers mention "Storytelling"134 positive29 negative

Customers find the storytelling engaging and relatable to contemporary society. They describe the book as a special tale that chronicles the lives of real Americans. The themes presented in the book are timeless, like the human soul's endurance and choice. Readers appreciate the multi-generational family saga with the Trask family as the central story.

"...The themes covered are the most important possible: family, love, good and evil, happiness, sorrow, and the relationship or lack of it between these..." Read more

"...The building is new and modern, in a well done mid-century way, leaving me to wonder how the plans ever survived the city council, in these days of..." Read more

"This is a story about the endurance of the human soul, about choosing to be who you would like to be rather than believing you were cut with a mold..." Read more

"...Still, an important chronicle of Salinas life and times." Read more

124 customers mention "Storyline"111 positive13 negative

Customers praise the storyline for its insightful analysis of human nature and complex themes of good and evil in society. They find the writing straightforward, believable, and honest. The realistic portrayal of life in the book helps readers understand sin and the power of change within themselves.

"...themes covered are the most important possible: family, love, good and evil, happiness, sorrow, and the relationship or lack of it between these..." Read more

"John Steinbeck's American epic, East of Eden, is a complex analysis of good and evil in society...." Read more

"...Not only was Lee a learned and intelligent man, he had the inner strength to keep Adam and his two sons, Cal and Aron, reasonably functioning while..." Read more

"...the characters and the scenes are carefully, richly drawn, and believable. I find the most recurring themes are:..." Read more

121 customers mention "Insight"121 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and valuable. It teaches valuable lessons in a simple and tragic way. Readers say the book explores many day-to-day struggles faced by people. The two big wars offer a perfect canvas for examining the human condition. The novel can truly change lives with its examples for living a full life.

"...Their interactions are complex and full of genuine dilemmas. You feel the character's happiness and their sorrow...." Read more

"...This novel will truly change lives and this is what has kept it moderately relevant in today's society. Reading this novel will not disappoint." Read more

"...The period between these two big wars offered a perfect slate for examining the human condition which becomes clear by showing the personalities,..." Read more

"...Moreover he provides the order, intellectual guidance affection, and tough love that helps the sons survive...." Read more

117 customers mention "Depth"102 positive15 negative

Customers appreciate Steinbeck's understanding of the human psyche and its sources of pain. They find the book evocative, honest, and a celebration of perseverance and love. The autobiographical content evokes a full spectrum of life-feelings and is a celebration of perseverant love.

"...are the most important possible: family, love, good and evil, happiness, sorrow, and the relationship or lack of it between these things and money..." Read more

"...book should be a requirement for everyone as it successfully touches the reader emotionally, logically, and ethically...." Read more

"...Iindeed much is autobiographical. The book opens with a beautiful description of Steinbeck's beloved Salinas Valley...." Read more

"...her changeability, her gales, her forces, her perpetual and enduring spirit. We do not simply live in nature, but come from it...." Read more

105 customers mention "Pacing"105 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fascinating and engaging, with a nice introduction and good list of further reading. The characters are complex yet relatable, and each page is anticipated and savored. The story gives a wonderful sense of place and time, with surprising twists and suspense. Overall, the book provides a rewarding reintroduction to the series.

"...Their interactions are complex and full of genuine dilemmas. You feel the character's happiness and their sorrow...." Read more

"...The highly complex, but relatable characters will surely find a way to sneak into one's heart and become a conscious reminder of ethical behavior...." Read more

"...’s beauty just as the narrator does; her dangerous flirtations, her permanency, her changeability, her gales, her forces, her perpetual and enduring..." Read more

"If the phrase "Great American Novel" implies a work of scope and substance, dealing with what is unique in American life, rooted in a deep knowledge..." Read more

Peak Of Many American Literary Classics
5 out of 5 stars
Peak Of Many American Literary Classics
What can possibly be stated about this book that already hasn't been? This book is easily one of the best pieces of literature out there by one of the best writers that has ever graced this earth. Most reading experiences are often described as journeys, but this one is quite literally so. The story goes across generations of characters and the lives they lead. Even when I found myself attached to a character and upset when their part in the story was over, I found myself becoming attached the new ones introduced. I believe Steinbeck is one of the few authors that can pull off this kind of stature without it making parts of novel better than the others and keeping consistent quality. The journey this book provides may be very long, but well worth it.Physical Book Itself:The Centennial Edition is in my opinion, the best choice to purchase. With a very nice soft-feel cover, and wonderful cover-art, decent size, and proper font size, makes it the most comfortable to read.The Penguin Orange Edition is wonderful in terms of cover-art and its rubber-feel but the font size is way too small and crammed together, making it hard to read. More of a collectors purchase than the edition you will want to actually read.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2023
    Although centered around the lives of just two families, John Steinbeck's East of Eden can be described as a novel of truly epic scope. Set in the period from the United States Civil War until the end of World War I, the story follows the lives of three generations of the Trask family, from Connecticut, and their contact with the Hamilton family on the opposite side of the country in the Salinas Valley in California.

    For those who have not read the novel, I will give a brief evaluation before getting into more detail for those who have. ***Spoilers are included in the ‘In Detail’ section,*** so you may not want to read past the quick evaluation if you have not read the book already!

    Quick Evaluation for those Who Have not Read It

    Starting from the opening chapter, Steinbeck's style is exceptionally vivid. You feel you are right there in all the beauty of the Salinas Valley. At the other extreme, when Steinbeck delves into sordid subjects, you also feel right there.

    The novel includes some of the most intensely developed characters in all of literature. Their interactions are complex and full of genuine dilemmas. You feel the character's happiness and their sorrow. You cannot help but root for some, hope for a demise that cannot come soon enough for others, and have no idea how things will turn out for the remainder.

    The themes covered are the most important possible: family, love, good and evil, happiness, sorrow, and the relationship or lack of it between these things and money and success. If these sound like themes of interest, and you are not queasy about a considerable percentage of the book delving into dark themes, then this book is highly recommended and will be hard to point down through most parts.

    Although, from the description on the cover, I worried that the book might become too overtly and excessively religious, this was not the case. Also, although the book is said to describe something distinctive about American culture, this seems like a stretch since nearly all themes have universal applicability.

    The only real weaknesses of the book are that, ultimately, some things that happen or fail to happen are rather unbelievable, and some things seem exaggerated compared to real life. These, however, are only minor dings on the overall brilliance of the story.

    In Detail [Spoilers Begin]

    Key Themes

    The key theme of the novel is family. Specifically, what a strong family makes possible and the destructiveness that absence of familial strength, or complete absence of family, can have. This is where the juxtaposition between the Hamilton's and the Trask's is most pronounced. We see that although the Hamilton family is not immune from tragedy, they are generally happy. For me, Samuel's humor and the Hamilton family’s gentle teasing of each other best demonstrate this, along with the scene where Samuel’s daughter Olive courageously takes to flying at an early airshow. Although Samuel has both had bad luck and never seriously set his mind to becoming wealthy, it seems safe to say that because of his devotion to his family, he is the richest man in the novel.

    With the Trask's, by contrast, there is general unhappiness, struggle, and uneven and even dubious love throughout. It is fascinating to ponder how this may have affected Adam's attraction to Cathy and Charles's repulsion from her. This is in addition to the more obvious replay of the Cain and Abel story through Caleb and Aron.

    Another central theme is the relationship between family and good and evil. The question of how much someone should worry about inheriting traits, especially undesirable or even evil ones, from their parents is particularly prominent. This, of course, is best exemplified by Caleb. He is already prone to worry that he is not good, and he begins to worry even more after finding out who his mother, Cathy, really is. (Although it is not mentioned in the book, the fact that he worries about this at all tells the reader that he is something much different from her and can avoid her course.)

    At the same time, although some children inherit traits considerably from their parents, others seem quite different. Caleb's difference from Aron shows this in the positive direction, while Cathy's difference from her parents shows an extreme in the other direction.

    Deeply Developed Characters

    Beyond the resonance of the themes, the book's other great strength is the depth of characters. As in real life, there are some very good people, like Samuel and Lee, one very bad one, Cathy, and many such as Adam, Charles, Caleb, and Aron, somewhere in between. All characters are completely three-dimensional. Samuel and Lee have had darkness in their backgrounds but emerge above it and become sources of love and light to those around them.

    Cathy, by contrast, seems to be a pure psychopath (meaning probably due mainly to genetics versus environment) or, at best, only a hair's width away from it. Despite this, Steinbeck is able to get readers inside her head convincingly. Cathy sees herself as stronger and smarter than others, something she realized very early on. Projecting, she can only see evil in others and their attempts to control her. In her mind, any attempt to control her warrants nearly any retribution, including murder.

    As she gets older, we even see glimmers of conscience in Cathy in the events leading up to and including her suicide. For instance, she worries that her arthritis is punishment for accepting the inheritance from Charles. Additionally, the reader wonders: did she leave Aron rather than Caleb her money because she ultimately realizes she is missing something Aron has? Nonetheless, even these glimmers of conscience do not prevent her from taking out Joe Valery with her last actions since he foolishly thought he could out-manipulate and harm her.

    Indeed, whether her decision to give everything to Aron was partly motivated by a desire to stir conflict among the twins is unclear. One even wonders if part of her motivation in committing suicide is because she realizes how weak she is becoming, both mentally and physically, compared to her youth. She can no longer be as competently evil as she once was. All these themes are woven together in a sick intensity in her suicide scene, which competes with the opening chapter for the most vivid in the novel.

    Some Minor Blemishes on a Great Novel

    Despite the novel's strengths: the depth of its characters, and the power and universality of its themes, some things in the book are blemishes on its greatness. For example, some things stretch the limits of believability. For instance, it stretches credibility that Adam could have such schizoid traits that learning from Cathy that Charles may be the twins' father does not lead to conflict with him. Similarly, given that Charles does not like Cathy, why would he leave half his money to her instead of giving it all to Adam or leaving it held in trust for the twins? Also stretching the limits of believability, why would Cathy, who seems all about vengeance, not get even with Edwards, who beats her within an inch of her life and leaves her for dead?

    Finally, although stories exploring good and evil on such a grand scale may inevitably have to take some liberties versus just recounting ordinary people's mundane day-to-day lives, the book overplays some things. One is just how prominent in American life brothels were. Was nearly everyone, married, unmarried, from laborer up to politician and lawyer, really visiting them regularly? To such an extent that nobody gets upset in the slightest upon learning that someone else has.

    Overall, there is quite a bit of somber reading to get through here. Nevertheless, the strength of the Hamilton family and the rise of Caleb and Abra into adulthood make the story, ultimately, a hopeful one.
    24 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2011
    John Steinbeck's American epic, East of Eden, is a complex analysis of good and evil in society. The book follows two families over three generations (from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of World War I) as their lives intertwine and the characters are faced with a series of tough moral decisions. Reading this book is like being caught in a giant moral dilemma; Steinbeck provides the reader with enough information to form opinions on the morality of the characters in the book. This forces the reader to make tough decisions about who is good and who is evil, while Steinbeck never ceases to shock the reader with the actions of his characters.

    Steinbeck's novel is held together by the complex and highly developed characters he features as the focus of the book. There are several important characters that can all be defined by a very distinct set of qualities. There is the extremely wise Samuel Hamilton, the intelligent, but naive Adam Trask, and the notoriously evil Cathy Ames. Steinbeck spends a great deal of time developing these characters and the reward is a satisfying representation of America in a period of dishevelment as industrialization and west ward expansion are the focus of society. The plethora of characters created by Steinbeck creates a complex and intricate balance in the novel; the actions of one character will undoubtedly affect all of the characters in either a positive or adverse way. These characters are what truly makes this novel an American classic; Steinbeck's ability to create a memorable cast drive the rest of the story.

    One of these characters, Cathy Ames, may be the most evil, twisted character ever created in all of American literature. The reader is introduced to Ames as she murders her parents by lighting their house on fire. From this point on, it is clear that Ames is the embodiment of evil in the novel. As Ames becomes ingratiated into the main plot, more evil actions ensue, including the attempted murder of her husband and the murder of a madam in charge of a brothel. These actions occur before Ames becomes truly evil by the end of the novel. Another of the more memorable characters in East of Eden is Lee, the Trask family's loyal Asian servant. Lee is meant to play the stereotypical Asian role in the novel, but Steinbeck attempts to break race barriers by incorporating Lee into the main plot of the novel. Lee is extremely intelligent and very wise. He puts up a facade of a stereotypical Asian servant around ignorant and arrogant Americans. However, around people he trusts, such as Samuel Hamilton and Adam Trask, he reveals his intelligence. Lee is very complex and Steinbeck ensures that he plays an important role in the novel.

    The novel lacks a clearly defined plot; it follows two families over several generations as they struggle to establish themselves in the Salinas Valley in California. However, the novel does act as an allegory to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. There are several obvious references to the book of Genesis throughout the novel (East of Eden, Adam Trask, and the twins Caleb and Aaron, meant to represent Cain and Abel), creating an interesting outlet for Steinbeck to analyze religious and social issues prominent in society during this era of American history. There are times when Steinbeck's commentary is somewhat subtle and there are times when his commentary is blatantly obvious as the narrator provides insight into the state of society during this time. However, unlike other fictitious novels that attempt to tackle heavy topics such as religion, Steinbeck is able to provide this commentary without sounding too pretentious; he doesn't claim to know the answers to some of the more controversial issues regarding religion. This adds depth to Steinbeck's already complex and layered novel, contributing to the intricacy of this intelligently written novel.

    East of Eden, like all of Steinbeck's novels, is full of descriptive passages that are essential in establishing the setting for the novel. The novel also takes place in the Salinas Valley of California, the same place that Steinbeck grew up in as a child. Steinbeck's knowledge of the region enables him to provide deep, descriptive details of the setting for the story. The setting is almost as important as the characters, as the distinct environment of the Salinas Valley shapes their behavior throughout the novel. In fact, the Salinas Valley is a metaphor for the lives of the Hamiltons and the Trasks. The valley appears to be heavenly and fertile, but as one digs into the soil unexpected layers of clay, dirt, and rock are revealed. The Hamiltons and the Trasks also appear to have it all together, but as the reader is familiarized with these characters, it becomes clear that they struggle with a great deal of internal conflict. Steinbeck's emphasis on setting also adds to the complexity of the novel, creating a memorable multilayered epic that has become an American classic.

    In writing this novel, Steinbeck took on a nearly impossible challenge; he attempted to write a novel that would encompass ideas about morality, religion, and politics, while remaining intelligible to his audience. Steinbeck deserves to be commended for accomplishing this feat. Reading this book should be a requirement for everyone as it successfully touches the reader emotionally, logically, and ethically. The highly complex, but relatable characters will surely find a way to sneak into one's heart and become a conscious reminder of ethical behavior. This novel will truly change lives and this is what has kept it moderately relevant in today's society. Reading this novel will not disappoint.
    62 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • GJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars East of Eden
    Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2024
    A great story. Well written. A classic.
  • jazabril
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 3, 2023
    Teniendo en cuenta la época en la que se escribió y por tanto ciertas opiniones ya no tan aceptadas, este libro es una gran lectura para la gente que guste de novelas del pasado, en particular de la California de fines del XIX e inicios del XX. Una gran y detallada narrativa, amena e incluso ilustrativa de una sociedad muy plural en su conformación, más de lo que aparenta.
  • T
    5.0 out of 5 stars Steinbeck's great work
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2024
    Utterly absorbing, panoramic and generational study of good and evil, nature and nurture, all the while referring to Cain and Abel.
  • Sanne
    2.0 out of 5 stars Book came damaged
    Reviewed in Belgium on September 22, 2024
    Have not yet read it, so I can't comment on the actual text, but the book itself came damaged. The cover was bent in half and the backside of the book looked like it had been wet. I'm not very happy with the condition it arrived in
  • Chelo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inolvidable
    Reviewed in Spain on May 22, 2024
    A través de la historia de dos generaciones de dos hermanos (inspirados en la pareja Caín y Abel) Steinbeck escribe sobre el bien y el mal, y sus personajes luchan contra sus tendencias naturales: ¿había algo de mal dentro de Abel, podría Caín haber superado su tendencia a la maldad? Aunque llena de reflexiones profundas la novela no es difícil de leer. Los personajes están muy bien dibujados y son complejos e interesantes, sobre todo el personaje del criado Lee, que sirve de hilo conductor.