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John Steinbeck, East of Eden (1952)
Of the many novels that John Steinbeck wrote, East of Eden was his favorite and the one of which he was proudest. It takes its title from a chapter of the Bible's Book of Genesis about the struggle between brothers Cain and Abel (Cal and Aron in the novel): "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden." The theme of good versus evil is universal, according to Steinbeck, who said, "there is no other story." However, the author believed that everyone is given free will to choose whether or not to do what is right or wrong and the interplay between these two extremes forms the narrative's basis. When first published, the reception to East of Eden was mixed. The public loved it, making it a bestseller; while critics said the biblical references were unsophisticated and clumsy. |