Obscene in the Extreme: The Burning and Banning of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”

by: Rick Wartzman

Published by: Public Affairs Books

Reviewed by Kim Bagato

Rick Wartzman accurately depicts 1930’s society at the time The Grapes of Wrath was released. Our world was experiencing turbulence socially, economically and globally, proving there isn’t anything new under the sun.

Steinbeck was a young writer, barely getting by. He was surprised by the furor created by the publication of his book recounting the story of the farm-working Joad family. As with all conflicts in life, there were two sides to this story and Wartzman does well to reveal both sides of the conflict.

The story tends to bog down, littered with details of other players in the story. I was most interested in Steinbeck’s response to the banning and burning of his books, especially since he was a newly published author. In Wartzman’s defense, it is obvious he’s done his homework on the history of this scuffle, and it’s impact on the working class in California’s agricultural population.

Anyone interested in researching the background of this literary dispute will enjoy the depth and insights provided by Wartzman.

Armchair Interviews agrees.