Novels and Stories 1932-1937: The Pastures of Heaven, To a God Unknown, Tortilla Flat, In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and Men (Library of America) Book

It has been said that Steinbeck used short novels such as these as something of a warm-up to the great work, "The Grapes of Wrath". Reading this collection, I support that theory. "The Pastures of Heaven" is interesting for the way Steinbeck weaves a central theme through a diverse, yet tangentially related collection of stories. "To A God Unknown" is a strange, weird, unusual work, a thing shadowing the borders of myth and fairy tale. "Tortilla Flat" is a full-on great book, the characters unforgettable; it is a vastly entertaining small book; the fact that it is likely based on actual people and events makes it all the more interesting. "In Dubious Battle" is surely a preliminary document, Steinbeck flexing his social consciousness, working out themes and ideas we would see again. What can one say about "Of Mice and Men"? A sad, moving, achingly poignant story, dealing in age-old themes that continue to quietly resonate. Reading this volume is assuredly time well spent.