John Steinbeck observed the plight of the dispossessed --the Okies--during the Great Depression and then wrote the epic Novel, "The Grapes of Wrath." The first half of "Steinbeck's bitter fruit" details his observations of the Depression years of the 1930s--the second half shows how close we may still be to the dark decade of the 1930s .The "bitter fruit" in the title are the grapes in "The Grapes of Wrath".

John Steinbeck published his epic novel "The Grapes of Wrath" in 1939--after observing the plight of he homeless and the dispossessed--the Okies-- "The Grapes of Wrath is now considered the seminal work of the Depression years. "Steinbeck's bitter fruit" is a two-part pat analysis--Steinbeck's work during the 1930s --the second half shows a how close we may still be to the poverty, hopelessness and black years of the 1930os. The "bitter fruit" in the title are the grapes in "The Grapes of Wrath." Written by an internationally-known Steinbeck expert.

Thomas Fensch is the author or editor of 32 books published in 44 years--since 1970. His titles include books about: John Steinbeck (5); Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel (2); James Thurber (2); Ernest Hemingway (1); John Howard Griffin (1) and others.; He has a doctorate from Syracuse University and lives outside Richmond Va.