The Pastures of Heaven (Twentieth-Century Classics)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 240 pages
• Published by: Penguin Classics April 1, 1995
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0140187480
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0140187489
• Book Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Weighs: 5.6 ounces

Product Review
A man whose work was equal to the vast social themes that drove him. -- Don DeLillo

John Steinbeck knew and understood America and Americans better than any other writer of the twentieth century. -- The Dallas Morning News

Product Review
John Steinbeck knew and understood America and Americans better than any other writer of the twentieth century. (The Dallas Morning News) A man whose work was equal to the vast social themes that drove him. (Don DeLillo)

Reader Reviews
Because I am such a fan of John Steinbeck's writing, I feel I am able to say that this is not among his best work. "The Pastures of Heaven" is centered around a beautiful valley in California. After its discovery by a Spanish Corporal, the book goes into the stories that happend on this land. While some of the characters recur, most of the characters are forgotten after their story is told. Steinbeck's character descriptions are the masterwork that is expected of him. However, since there is no running theme aside from the land itself, the reader may have difficulty maintaining interest. Without a main character, it is difficult to be drawn in to the story. Each chapter in the book starts a separate story. Some of the stories are amusing. I found the story in Chapter IV to be the best. Other stories such as Chapter IX seem to lack any coherence with the rest of the stories, but serve only the purpose of forwarding an opinion on a social issue. In the case of Chapter IX, Steinbeck is discussing the ethics of the death penalty. While fans of Steinbeck are certain to read this book, casual fans are unlikely to enjoy it. The Steinbeck fan who reads all of his work is likely to find some of the stories enjoyable.