The Grapes of Wrath at 75

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. The novel, which traces the Joad family's journey from Oklahoma to California during the Depression, won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. The National Steinbeck Center (NSC) in Salinas, California, plans to celebrate with a three-day festival next month. Events include an "Opening Night Speakeasy" and various talks and tours.

Last fall, the NSC sponsored a migration reenactment in which a team of artists traveled along Route 66, presenting programs and collecting oral histories related to The Grapes of Wrath and its themes. (An article in our spring issue interviews two participants.) A documentary by P.J. Palmer about that experience will premiere at the May festival.

Image: Courtesy of NSC.