John Steinbeck was born in a small town in northern California in 1902, and his career mirrors the highs and lows of the 20th century. A difficult relationship with his parents, his turbulent married life and his often tempestuous friendships with celebrated writers, entertainers, intellectuals and politicians, all played their part in the creation of some of the century's greatest works of fiction. This biography by Jay Parini offers a portrait of a driven and difficult man. Parini is an American poet and novelist whose previous books include a biographical study of the poet Theodore Roethke which was shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize in 1979.