This is an introduction to Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath . An overview of Steinbeck’s family life, reading and personal experiences draws heavily on his letters and journals, illuminating his intentions. A detailed plot summary follows, along with an examination of the novel’s genesis. The immediate social, cultural and historical contexts surrounding the work, including the Dust Bowl, the Okie migration and the Great Depression, are examined. The novel’s major themes and ideas are considered, followed by an analysis of Steinbeck’s narrative art. The guide closes with a survey of the novel’s critical reception and a bibliographic essay.