John Steinbeck

The winter of our discontent

The final novel of one of America’s most beloved writers—a tale of degeneration, corruption, and spiritual crisis In awarding John Steinbeck the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Nobel committee stated that with The Winter of Our Discontent, he had “resumed his position as an independent expounder of the truth, with an unbiased instinct for what is genuinely American.” Ethan Allen Hawley, the protagonist of Steinbeck’s last novel, works as a clerk in a grocery store that his family once owned. With Ethan no longer a member of Long Island’s aristocratic class, his wife is restless, and his teenage children are hungry for the tantalizing material comforts he cannot provide. Then one day, in a moment of moral crisis, Ethan decides to take a holiday from his own scrupulous standards. Set in Steinbeck’s contemporary 1960 America, the novel explores the tenuous line between private and public honesty, and today ranks alongside his most acclaimed works of penetrating insight into the American condition. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by leading Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw. For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The Winter of Our Discontent

Andrew John Kinney

Some reviewers have said Steinbeck was prescient in seeing the moral decline and ever-increasing materialism of American society in this book written in 1960. Though the book was criticized at the time it was published, Steinbeck's skills as a storyteller are not diminished, in my opinion, and his picture of marital love is quite beautiful. This is not The Grapes of Wrath, but it is a well-written book that perhaps saw something coming in America that most people in the 1950's and early'60's did not: Vietnam, Nixon, Watergate, et al. The dialogue is as good as ever from Steinbeck. I am glad I read this; it is the second welcome surprise found among his lesser-known works, the other being A Russian Journal.

Ioana Kardos

Last year at about the same date in december, I started reading East of Eden and I definitely loved it: the characters, the plot, everything: It shows both sides of human kind. The Winter of Our Discontent is different since the whole book revolves around a single protagonist: Ethan Hawley. Steinbeck is by all means a wicked one: in the beginning, I admired Ethan for not accepting to work behind his boss' back, for being content with his position as a clerk even though his family wanted more, and I thought: oh, this man uses his smartness for a nobel cause, that is keeping his principles. But the author shows me that the ones you think are principled can disappoint you and... Life goes on! Steinbeck is one of my favourites: smart, ingenious, very creative, wicked and outspoken. Perfect for a date!

Winter of Our Discontent

raviyah anderson <3

this was one of my works of fiction to read, with being both classically written but with a modern style twist. Steinbeck’s characterization of Ethan Hawley, the main character, shows the shortcomings and complexities of humanity through the average citizen of Steinbeck’s costal town, one who came from wealth and fortune but fell in status. Steinbeck writes beautifully with a twisting plot of how humanity can quickly spiral from innocence under pressure from our modern society and peers, but, with reference to the title, can only move up from rock bottom towards the better days that lie ahead. 

Janet Doré

This book cemented John Steinbeck into place as one of my favorite authors. His character development is rarely matched, the issues he writes about are timeless, and I would argue his writing is perfect. Apparently, the judges for the Nobel Prize agreed!

Though written in the middle of last century, The Winter of Our Discontent is totally relevant to today’s reader. Ethan Allen Hawley struggles with the repercussions of being good in a capitalistic society that rewards the use of people as stepping stones. On a much more simplistic level, I have brought up many of the observations and frustrations with what one must to do to get ahead in this world...and have felt what Ethan felt at times. 

Read it. You’ll be better for it.

The winter of our discontent

Reviews