11 Intriguing Details About John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’

The Grapes of Wrath, a politically charged masterpiece by John Steinbeck, delves into the hardships of the Great Depression. The narrative traces the Joad family’s journey as they abandon their Oklahoma farm and migrate to California in search of employment. Published on April 14, 1939, the novel gave a voice to the “Okies,” chronicled historical events as they unfolded, and caused such backlash for Steinbeck that he began carrying a firearm for his safety. Discover more about this timeless work below.

1. The Grapes of Wrath drew inspiration from Steinbeck’s visits to labor camps.

In 1936, Steinbeck was commissioned by the San Francisco News to report on migrant labor camps in California. His articles, available here, were later compiled into a pamphlet featuring Dorothea Lange’s powerful photographs. Steinbeck depicted Americans enduring squalid conditions in makeshift shelters, lacking basic amenities, and battling hunger, disease, and mortality. These firsthand observations heavily influenced the narrative of The Grapes of Wrath.

2. John Steinbeck unintentionally utilized research intended for another author’s novel.

Steinbeck dedicated The Grapes of Wrath to Tom Collins, the manager of the Migratory Labor Camp in Kern County, California, who assisted him in gathering research for the book. “This information is crucial,” Steinbeck wrote about Collins’s detailed camp reports. “It’s precise and exactly what will be used to challenge me if I make any errors.” Unbeknownst to Steinbeck, another writer, Sanora Babb, had authored those reports and was using them as the basis for her own novel, Whose Names Are Unknown. Random House had planned to publish Babb’s work, but the overwhelming success of The Grapes of Wrath overshadowed it. Babb’s novel was delayed and only saw publication in 2004, just a year before her death.

3. During Steinbeck’s research for the novel, a riot erupted in his hometown.

Steinbeck was raised in Salinas, California, a farming town marked by political divisions between laborers and farm owners. Despite his middle-class upbringing, Steinbeck identified with the working class and even labored on a sugar beet farm in his youth. (He often paid workers a quarter to share their life stories, some of which later inspired his fiction.) As he documented labor camps, the Salinas Lettuce Strike erupted, fueled by clashes between unionizing workers, landowners, and police, leading to violent confrontations in the streets.

4. Steinbeck found the process of writing The Grapes of Wrath deeply distressing.

During the creation of The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck maintained a journal detailing his journey. The entries reveal the emotional rollercoaster of his writing experience: while he believed he was crafting something extraordinary, he often questioned his own capabilities. “This book has turned into a torment due to my shortcomings,” he wrote. The mental strain of writing took a physical toll, as he noted, “My stomach and nerves are in turmoil, protesting fiercely.” Later, he added, “Now I’m home with a slight ache that isn’t truly from my stomach.” For further insight, listen to this podcast featuring an actor reading excerpts from the journal.

5. The title The Grapes of Wrath is derived from “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Carol, Steinbeck’s wife, suggested the title The Grapes of Wrath, inspired by the lines from “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord/He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The poem, later adapted into a song, was penned by Julia Ward Howe in 1861. She borrowed the phrase “grapes of wrath” from Revelation 14:19 in the Bible. By choosing this title, Steinbeck aimed to underscore the novel’s American roots, countering accusations that it was Communist propaganda.

6. The Grapes of Wrath faced bans and book burnings.

While the novel received critical praise and sold over 430,000 copies by February 1940, it also sparked controversy. The Associated Farmers of California, angered by its portrayal of exploiting migrant workers, labeled The Grapes of Wrath a “pack of lies.” They publicly burned copies and accused it of promoting communism. Additionally, some institutions banned the book due to its explicit language and the controversial ending, where a woman breastfeeds a starving man.

7. Steinbeck became so fearful that he began carrying a firearm.

The backlash Steinbeck faced after The Grapes of Wrath was so severe that he contemplated quitting writing. Media outlets, influenced by the Associated Farmers of California, launched a “hysterical personal attack” against him. “I’m labeled a pervert, a drunk, and a drug addict,” he wrote. The FBI even placed him under surveillance. In Salinas, lifelong acquaintances turned hostile, and he received death threats. The Monterey County Sheriff advised him to carry a gun, which he did. His son Thomas Steinbeck recalled, “My father was the most heavily armed man I knew, rarely going anywhere without a weapon.”

8. The 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath was a major box-office success.

Although the book was already successful, the 1940 film adaptation solidified The Grapes of Wrath as a timeless masterpiece. Directed by John Ford, it featured Henry Fonda in the role of Tom Joad. Steinbeck reportedly admired Fonda’s portrayal, remarking that it made him “believe in my own writing.” Ford earned an Academy Award for Best Director, and Jane Darwell won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ma Joad.

9. Woody Guthrie composed the ballad of Tom Joad.

Following the film’s release, Victor Records commissioned Woody Guthrie to create 12 songs about the Dust Bowl for an album titled Dust Bowl Ballads. One of the tracks was inspired by the movie. Guthrie borrowed a typewriter from a friend, poured himself a jug of wine, and penned the lyrics to “Tom Joad.”

10. The Grapes of Wrath coined the nickname for Route 66.

In the novel, Steinbeck describes Route 66, the 2,500-mile highway connecting Chicago and Los Angeles, as a vital lifeline in the U.S.: “66 is the mother road, the path of escape,” he wrote. This term, “Mother Road,” has since been immortalized in various works, from Bobby Troup’s song “Route 66” to Jack Kerouac’s On The Road.

11. The Grapes of Wrath played a key role in John Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize win.

The Grapes of Wrath secured the 1940 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and significantly contributed to Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. “While I may doubt in my heart whether I deserve this honor over other esteemed writers, there’s no doubt about my joy and pride in receiving it,” Steinbeck remarked in his acceptance speech, which you can view above.

Instead of providing “personal or scholarly insights into the nature and direction of literature,” Steinbeck opted to reflect on “the profound duties and responsibilities of literary creators,” stating:

“Understanding and confronting fear are central to a writer’s purpose. ... They are tasked with revealing our profound flaws and failures, bringing our darkest and most perilous dreams into the light to foster growth. Moreover, writers are entrusted with proclaiming and honoring humanity’s proven ability for nobility of heart and spirit—for bravery in the face of defeat—for courage, empathy, and love. In the eternal struggle against weakness and despair, these qualities stand as beacons of hope and inspiration.”