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John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck consistently appears on class reading lists across the U.S., and his work has influenced generations. Steinbeck lived and wrote during some of the most eventful and controversial eras of twentieth-century America, including the struggles of California’s migrant workers during the 1930s, which led to his masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath.
A complicated man whose personal life often took a backseat to his writing—he fought his way through three marriages, was a distant father, and battled with alcoholism—Steinbeck wrote because he was compelled to. Yet he always doubted his abilities, and lived in fear of never writing a decent book.
Milton Meltzer’s biography includes numerous excerpts of this iconic author’s writing, and is the latest addition to the Up Close series.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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37 people want to read
About the author
Milton Meltzer
177 books25 followersMilton Meltzer wrote 110 books, five of which were nominated for the National Book Award. With Langston Hughes, he co-authored A Pictorial History of Black Americans, now in its sixth edition. He received the 2001 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to children's literature, the 1986 Jane Addams Peace Association Children's Book Award, and the 2000 Regina Medal. He died in New York City of esophageal cancer at age 94.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 31, 2019
At first I believed this book would read as a long Wikipedia article, but giving it time I discovered that this author revealed to me the secrets of the insecure heart of this great writer. Well worth my time.
My favorite note was one critic said of Steinbeck's writing... there was not.."one sloppy sentence."
I also loved Steinbeck's timely review of the media.
"What can I say about journalism? It has the greatest virtue and the greatest evil. It is the first thing the dictator controls. It is the mother of literature and the perpetrator of crap. In many cases it is the only history we have and yet it is the tool of the worst men. But over a long period of time and because it is the product of so many men, it is perhaps the purest thing we have. Honesty has a way of creeping in even when it was not intended."
My favorite note was one critic said of Steinbeck's writing... there was not.."one sloppy sentence."
I also loved Steinbeck's timely review of the media.
"What can I say about journalism? It has the greatest virtue and the greatest evil. It is the first thing the dictator controls. It is the mother of literature and the perpetrator of crap. In many cases it is the only history we have and yet it is the tool of the worst men. But over a long period of time and because it is the product of so many men, it is perhaps the purest thing we have. Honesty has a way of creeping in even when it was not intended."
May 14, 2023
This book was good. I really liked this quote,
“The writers of today, even I, have a tendency to celebrate the destruction of the spirit and God knows it is destroyed often enough. It is the duty of the writer to lift up, to extend, to encourage. If the written word has contributed anything at all to our culture, it is this-great writing has been a staff lean on, a mother to consult, a wisdom to pick up stumbling folly, a strength in weakness and a courage to support weak cowardice…” (John Steinbeck)
“The writers of today, even I, have a tendency to celebrate the destruction of the spirit and God knows it is destroyed often enough. It is the duty of the writer to lift up, to extend, to encourage. If the written word has contributed anything at all to our culture, it is this-great writing has been a staff lean on, a mother to consult, a wisdom to pick up stumbling folly, a strength in weakness and a courage to support weak cowardice…” (John Steinbeck)
October 27, 2020
Meltzer describes Steinbeck as a complicated man, quite often a difficult man, who fought his way through three stormy marriages while struggling with alcoholism.
But Steinbeck was also a loyal son and friend, and willing to seek out the next adventure at the drop of a hat. He went to extreme measures and research to write his stories. Never quite confident in his work as a journalist or author, Steinbeck went on to create some of the world’s masterful publications.
A good read.
But Steinbeck was also a loyal son and friend, and willing to seek out the next adventure at the drop of a hat. He went to extreme measures and research to write his stories. Never quite confident in his work as a journalist or author, Steinbeck went on to create some of the world’s masterful publications.
A good read.
October 24, 2025
I’m really not sure how to rate this one. It was interesting to read more about one of my favorite authors, but I have always had such a high opinion of him it was disappointing to find that he was very flawed (just like all of us) in certain aspects of his life too. I guess there’s a few things I would have rather not known.
June 16, 2023
I’m 50 pages in and I already know this is gonna be a banger
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I was right.
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I was right.
November 6, 2008
Written Review
Rating: R+
Grade: 5-7
Author: Milton Meltzer
Title: Up Close: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Copyright: 2008
Price 16.99
# ISBN-10: 0670061395
# ISBN-13: 978-0670061396
Reviewer: Jenn Good Date: 11/05/08
“Up close” is quite an apt series title when applied to this biography. Meltzer’s work is meticulously layered to form an enticing depiction of John Steinbeck. He depicts the author, but more interestingly the human being behind such great works of literature as Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. The story is accessible, drawing on so many elements for this intimate portrait. These elements include showing Steinbeck as a young boy struggling in school, as a still struggling writer and family man, and ultimately as a successful and heralded winner of The Nobel Prize for literature and The Medal of Honor. Through this journey we are lead in close, to view Steinbeck not merely as the literary giant, but as a real human with the tribulations that can beset any. We see Steinbeck through successes and failures as a withdrawn, self-doubting, often deeply depressed individual. We see him through his troubled marriages and turbulent life, through his politics and ideals. The reader explores the life that John lived and the personal and worldly influences that drove his writing and his works. “It’s the ordinary that most of tend to dismiss. What’s special about ordinary people? We ask. Everything he’d answer. Their humanness, the way they talk, think, move, swear, laugh, get mad, work, get drunk, fight, make love, raise children, grow old, die.” Steinbeck had a deep understanding to capture this humanness in people, and Meltzer highlights it brilliantly. A highly worthy addition to any library collection, especially in light of the rich history of school children reading Steinbeck’s seminal works of deeply American literature.
Rating: R+
Grade: 5-7
Author: Milton Meltzer
Title: Up Close: John Steinbeck
Publisher: Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Copyright: 2008
Price 16.99
# ISBN-10: 0670061395
# ISBN-13: 978-0670061396
Reviewer: Jenn Good Date: 11/05/08
“Up close” is quite an apt series title when applied to this biography. Meltzer’s work is meticulously layered to form an enticing depiction of John Steinbeck. He depicts the author, but more interestingly the human being behind such great works of literature as Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. The story is accessible, drawing on so many elements for this intimate portrait. These elements include showing Steinbeck as a young boy struggling in school, as a still struggling writer and family man, and ultimately as a successful and heralded winner of The Nobel Prize for literature and The Medal of Honor. Through this journey we are lead in close, to view Steinbeck not merely as the literary giant, but as a real human with the tribulations that can beset any. We see Steinbeck through successes and failures as a withdrawn, self-doubting, often deeply depressed individual. We see him through his troubled marriages and turbulent life, through his politics and ideals. The reader explores the life that John lived and the personal and worldly influences that drove his writing and his works. “It’s the ordinary that most of tend to dismiss. What’s special about ordinary people? We ask. Everything he’d answer. Their humanness, the way they talk, think, move, swear, laugh, get mad, work, get drunk, fight, make love, raise children, grow old, die.” Steinbeck had a deep understanding to capture this humanness in people, and Meltzer highlights it brilliantly. A highly worthy addition to any library collection, especially in light of the rich history of school children reading Steinbeck’s seminal works of deeply American literature.
September 9, 2011
I have read most of Steinbeck's books and have visited the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, California and wanted to know more about him. This little book give a good insight into a very complicated and extremely gifted man.
July 9, 2009
A quick, easy and interesting read.
April 23, 2017
A simple and brief intro into Steinbeck's life and works. It's meant for young readers, I think, but anyone can enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews