A masterpiece of Biblical scope, and the magnum opus of one of
America's most enduring authors, in a deluxe Centennial edition
In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden
"the first book," and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity
of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California's Salinas Valley, this
sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of
two families--the Trasks and the Hamiltons--whose generations helplessly
reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and
Abel.
The masterpiece of Steinbeck's later years, East of Eden is a work in
which Steinbeck created his most mesmerizing characters and explored his
most enduring themes: the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of
love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence. Adapted for the
1955 film directed by Elia Kazan introducing James Dean, and read by
thousands as the book that brought Oprah's Book Club back, East of Eden
has remained vitally present in American culture for over half a
century. This Centennial edition, specially designed to commemorate one
hundred years of Steinbeck, features french flaps and deckle-edged
pages.
For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher
of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than
1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best
works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers
trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by
introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary
authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translato
