Important Dates from John Steinbeck's Life

Date of Birth

Feb 27, 1902

Famous People Born in 1902 John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California.

Graduates from Salinas High School

May 31, 1919

Studies English Literature at Stanford University

Period: Sep 1, 1919 to Apr 10, 1925

Leaves Stanford University without a Degree

Apr 11, 1925

Worked as a tour guide and caretakerat Lake Tahoe

Mar 12, 1928

Meets his first wife, Carol Henning

Jul 14, 1928

Steinbeck publishes his first novel - "Cup of Gold."

Oct 25, 1929

Gets married in Los Angeles

Jan 10, 1930

Meets Ed Ricketts

Sep 21, 1930

Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts became close friends. Ricketts became a mentor to Steinbeck during the following decade, teaching him a great deal about philosophy and biology.

Steinbeck publishes "The Pastures of Heaven"

Mar 9, 1932

Steinbeck publishes "The Red Pony"

Jun 19, 1933

Steinbeck publishes "Tortilla Flat"

Nov 25, 1935

Steinbeck publishes "Of Mice and Men"

Jun 23, 1937

Steinbeck publishes "The Grapes of Wrath"

Oct 24, 1939

Steinbeck publishes "Cannery Row"

Apr 22, 1945

Steinbeck publishes "The Pearl"

Jan 12, 1947

Steinbeck publishes "East of Eden"

Sep 29, 1952

Steinbeck publishes "Sweet Thursday," a sequal of "Cannery Row"

Apr 13, 1954

Steinbeck publishes "The Winter of Our Discontent"

Apr 8, 1961

Steinbeck wins the Nobel Prize for literature

Aug 13, 1962

Steinbeck dies in New York City

Dec 20, 1968