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Birth
On the 27th of February 1902, Steinbeck was born in Salinas, CA to John Ernst II and Olive Hamilton. -
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World War One
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Salinas High School
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Stanford University
Steinbeck attended classes at Stanford University but never received a degree. During these years, Steinbeck dropped out for several months and was employed intermittently as a sales clerk, farm laborer, ranch hand, bench chemist, and factory worker. -
First Publications
During his time at Stanford University, Steinbeck published "Fingers of Cloud" and "Adventures in Arcademy" in The Stanford Spectator. -
Cup of Gold Published
Steinbeck publishes his first novel, Cup of Gold, with Mcbride. -
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Great Depression
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Ed Ricketts
During this year, Steinbeck meets Edward F. Ricketts, marine biologist, philosopher, and longtime friend. -
Move to Pacific Grove
After marrying Carol, she and Steinbeck move to a house in Pacific Grove. -
Dissonant Symphony
During the 1930s, while working on To a God Unknown and The Pastures of Heaven, Steinbeck experimented with a collection of linked stories, titled Dissonant Symphony. The work was supposed to focus on several northern California families and how their lives were influenced by environment and other circumstances. Though Steinbeck wrote much of it, the work was eventually abandoned. -
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Dust Bowl
In 1936, Tom Collins took over the weedpatch camp and met Steinbeck. -
Carol Henning
Marriage to Carol Henning, Steinbeck's first wife. -
Pastures of Heaven Published
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To A God Unknown Published
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Steinbeck's mother dies
Olive Hamilton Steinbeck dies in Salinas, CA at age 66. -
Tortilla Flat Published
The first novel that had popular success, Tortilla Flat was published by Covici-Friede. His editor for this novel, Pascal Covici, would become a lifelong friend. -
In Dubious Battle Published
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Death of Steinbeck's Father
John Ernst Steinbeck (father) dies in May at 72. -
Travel
First trip to Europe and Russia -
The Red Pony Published
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Travel West
Steinbeck went west from Oklahoma with migrants. -
The Chrysanthemums Published
First published in Harper's Magazine. -
Of Mice and Men Published
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Play: Of Mice and Men
Opening of the play, Of Mice and Men in New York. Steinbeck had gone to New York and Pennsylvania to work on the stage version, which was produced by Music Box Theatre. -
Their Blood is Strong Published
A nonfiction account of the migrant labor problem -
Award
New York Drama Critics Circle Award given to Steinbeck for the play Of Mice and Men -
The Long Valley Published
A short story collection, including the Red Pony, Flight, The Gift, The Chrysanthemums, The White Quail. For this work, Pascal Covici became an editor at Viking Press after the bankruptcy of his own firm. -
The Grapes of Wrath Published
Published by Viking, The Grapes of Wrath, provoking both great popular acclaim and violent political condemnation for its depiction of Oklahoma migrants and California growers, as well as "vulgar" language and socialist bias. -
Film
The film, Of Mice and Men, is released. -
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World War Two
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Film
Film of The Grapes of Wrath released. -
Award
In the Spring of 1940, Steinbeck receives the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath -
Documentary: The Forgotten Village
Summer of 1940s, a documentary film about the living conditions in rural Mexico is released -
Marine Expedition
Ricketts and Steinbeck travel through the Gulf of California on "Western Flyer" from Mar 11, 1940 to Apr 20, 1940 -
Travel to Mexico
Steinbeck traveled to Mexico for the filming of The Forgotten Village. -
Separated from Carol
In the Spring of 1941, Carol and Steinbeck seperate. -
Gwyn
In the Fall of 1941, Steinbeck moves in with Gwyndolyn Conger. -
Sea of Cortez Published
Book written with Ed Ricketts, published by Viking -
Bombs Away
Bombs Away written for Army Air Corps -
Film
The movie version of The Moon is Down is released. -
Divorce
Divorce from Carol is finalized. -
Travel to Europe and North Africa
From June to October of 1943, Steinbeck traveled in Europe and North Africa as a war correspondent for New York Herald Tribune. -
Move to New York
After marrying Gwyn in March, she and Steinbeck move to New York. -
Marriage to Gwyn
Gwyn Conger and John Steinbeck marry in New Orleans. -
Birth of Thom
Steinbeck and Gwyn's first child is born, Thomas "Thom" Steinbeck. -
Cannery Row Published
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Travel to Sweden
Gwyn and John sailed on a ship to Sweden in October of 1946, where he was inundated with reporters and cameramen. While he was there, he was awarded King Haakon’s Liberty Cross for his writing of The Moon is Down. -
Birth of John IV
Steinbeck and Gwyn's second son is born, John Steinbeck IV. -
The Wayward Bus Published
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The Pearl Published
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Travel to Russia
From August to September of 1947, Steinbeck took a tour of Russia with photographer Robert Capa for the New York Herald Tribune. -
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Cold War
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A Russian Journal Published
An account of Steinbeck's 1947 tour of Russia is published by Viking. -
Death of Ed Ricketts
Ed Ricketts, longtime friend of Steinbeck, is killed in an automobile accident. -
Divorce
Steinbeck and Gwyn divorce. -
Burning Bright Published
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Play: Burning Bright
Opening of the play Burning Bright in New York City. -
Marriage to Elaine
Steinbeck marries his third wife, Elaine Anderson Scott. -
The Log from the Sea of Cortez Published
This publication also includes an original essay "About Ed Ricketts" -
Travel to Nantucket
John, Elaine, and John’s two sons all spent the summer of 1951 in Nantucket. It was here that he made major strides toward the completion of his “big” novel East of Eden. By the time of the family’s departure from Nantucket, he was extremely close to completing the novel. -
Film: Viva Zapata!
Screenplay for this movie was published in Rome by Edizoni Filmcritica in 1953. -
East of Eden Published
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Travel
Steinbeck travels Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Finland. -
Sweet Thursday Published
Sequel to Cannery Row -
Homes
Steinbeck purchases a summer home in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York. -
Play: Pipe Dream
A Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein III musical based on Sweet Thursday, opens in New York. -
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Vietnam War
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Presidential Election
Eisenhower vs Adlai Stevenson
Eisenhower won, but Steinbeck supported Stevenson. (Description of photo: John and Elaine Steinbeck, President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), Mr and Ms James Roosevelt on route to the Adlai Stevenson Funeral on Air Force 1) -
The Short Reign of Pippin IV Published
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Film: The Wayward Bus
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Travel to Tokyo
In 1957, Steinbeck went to Japan for the P.E.N. meeting. Though apprehensive, he made the opening speech for the opening session of the congress. -
Once There Was a War Published
A collection of Steinbeck's 1943 wartime dispatches. -
Travel to England and Wales
From February to October in 1959, John and Elaine traveled to England and Wales to research background for a modern English version of Malory's Morte D'arthur. -
Charley Travels
From September to November of 1960, Steinbeck tours the United States with his poodle, Charley. -
The Winter of Our Discontent Published
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Travels with Charley Published
The journal of his 1960 trip with Charley is published. -
Nobel Prize
Steinbeck is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. -
Travel to Scandinavia, Europe, and the Soviet Union
Steinbeck and dramatist Edward Albee travel on the United States Information Agency cultural tour from October to December of 1963. Steinbeck and dramatist Edward Albee travel on the United States Information Agency cultural tour. -
Medal of Freedom
Steinbeck is presented the Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Travel to South Vietnam
Steinbeck goes for an extensive visit to South Vietnam for fact-finding and to visit John IV from December of 1966 to January of 1967. -
Unfinished Novel
"A Piece of it Fell on my Tail" was the title of a work Steinbeck began writing shortly after abandoning The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights. This was the last literary project he planned. -
America and Americans Published
A reflection on contemporary America -
Death
Steinbeck dies of arteriosclerosis in New York City. -
In Touch Published
The Vietnam Memoir by John Steinbeck IV. -
Uncollected Stories of John Steinbeck
Published in Japan, Kiyoshi Nakayama includes multiple stories published in a variety of places. Stories include: "The Time the Wolves Ate the Vice Principal", "His Father", and "Reunion at the Quiet Hotel".
