Reminiscences from Steinbeck's sons, wives, and closest friends, including Arthur Miller, Burgess Meredith, John Kenneth Galbraith, and Tom Wolfe, offer valuable insights his life, demonstrate the scope and depth of his influence, and give scholars useful biographical information. The biggest names in Steinbeck studies share both personal and critical views on Steinbeck's concept of fiction, his spirituality, his vast international appeal, his ambiguous portrayal of women, and the future of Steinbeck criticism. A feast for scholars and enthusiasts alike, this book offers the most varied picture of the Nobel Prize-winning novelist to date. John Steinbeck's writings are among the most widely read works of American fiction. Though his novels have always been popular with general readers, critics expressed surprise when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, and some scholars have been quick to dismiss his works as more appropriate for high school students than for undergraduates. In recent years, however, there has been a growing recognition of Steinbeck as a serious writer, and a correspondingly large body of scholarship has been published about him. One hundred years after his birth, this book offers a valuable perspective on Steinbeck's achievements and the future of his work.