The Grapes of Wrath Audiobook By John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott cover art

The Grapes of Wrath

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The Grapes of Wrath

By: John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott
Narrated by: Dylan Baker
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John Steinbeck's powerful evocation of the suffering and hardship caused by the Great Depression, and a panoramic vision of the struggle for the American Dream, The Grapes of Wrath includes a critical introduction by Robert DeMott in Penguin Modern Classics. "I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags, I don't want him satisfied".

Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic The Grapes of Wrath remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of Dust Bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of Tom Joad and his family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel west in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires, and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision. Adapted into a celebrated film directed by John Ford, and starring Henry Fonda, The Grapes of Wrath is an eloquent tribute to the endurance and dignity of the human spirit.

John Steinbeck (1902-68), winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for literature, is remembered as one of the greatest and best-loved American writers of the 20th century. During the Second World War Steinbeck served as a war correspondent, with his collected dispatches published as Once There Was a War (1958); in 1945 he was awarded the Norwegian Cross of Freedom for his novel The Moon is Down (1942), a portrayal of Resistance efforts in northern Europe. His best-known works include the epics The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952), and his tragic novella Of Mice and Men (1937). John Steinbeck's complete works are published in Penguin Modern Classics. If you liked The Grapes of Wrath, you might enjoy East of Eden, also available in Penguin Classics.

©1939 John Steinbeck (P)2011 Penguin Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt American Literature

Critic reviews

"It is Steinbeck's best novel, i.e., his toughest and tenderest, his roughest written and most mellifluous, his most realistic and, in its ending, his most melodramatic, his angriest and most idyllic. It is great in the way that Unlce Tom's Cabin was great. One of the most impassioned and exciting books of the year." (Time)

"One comes away moved, indignant, protesting, pitying. A fiery document of protest and compassion, as a story that had to be told, as a book that must be read." (Louis Kronenberger, The Nation)

"A novelist who is also a true poet" (Sunday Times)

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I put off listening to this book for quite a while after getting it on sale. I knew it was a well-rated classic that I really wanted to read. My reluctance, however, was due to the fear that it might be outdated, slow moving, or even boring. Oh how wrong I was!

Listening to Dylan Baker's awesome narration of Steinbeck's masterpiece, it felt like I was carried away to a different time and place. Each character had their own particular voice--it was hard to believe there was only one narrator.

I was always engrossed in the story, I learned much about a period in our history that never caught my attention before, and I felt very sad as I followed the Joad familly's desperate plight for survival.

Steinbeck's writing style made it so easy to visualize the story and the characters. I felt like I was immersed in their lives, almost a fly on the wall. I really cared what happened to each and every one of them. And finally, I was prepared for an abrupt ending, but that brought quite a surprise. I wasn't sure I believed my ears. It was totally unexpected and will remain with me for a long time to come.

Highly recommended book! Don't procrastinate. Jump right in!

Don't Miss This Classic!

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I've literally waited 5 years for this audio to be released of what is hands down the best piece of American literature ever written. I think the pace and clarity of the narrator is perfect. It does have odd, blunt interludes of harmonica music that can snap you out of the trance the book puts you in, but other than that its a pretty flawless rendition of an American Classic.

Pleased

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Dorthea Lange and Walker Evans captured the great depression in images. John Steinbeck captured it in words. Dylan Baker does an excellent job of bringing Steinbeck???s beautiful words to life. The plight of the Joad family, which has become a pseudo family for all the victims of the dust bowl, is the touching reality of the dark days that our ancestors endured in the 1930s. In my opinion, The Grapes of Wrath is one of the greatest American works of literature and a classic that should be listened to by all. I have had this audio book on my wish list for 5 years. It was worth the wait. Audible you didn???t disappoint. Thank you.

Worth the wait !!!!!

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This book is not one to miss! John Steinbeck is masterful in his depiction of a Depression era migrant farm family struggling to survive. Dylan Baker did a highly-affective narration of all the characters in the book! Enjoyed every minute!

Intense, gritty and hugely satisfying! Loved it!

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I don't usually bother to rate books that have a lot of reviews, and since this book is a classic, I am sure it will get lots of reviews. I am 54 years old, and somehow I never read this book. I am giving this book a solid five stars, but I wanted to comment on the harmonica playing that many people said they didn't like. For some reason, I thought it actually added something to this book - normally I am somewhat indifferent to sound effects and music in audio books, but I thought it was very fitting in this book, and I did not find the volume objectionable. Having said this, I gave the book 5-stars; I am not rating the harmonica playing.

Excellent book; I actually liked the harmonica

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When I was told that High School students are forced to read this book I was astonished. This book is like olives. As an adult, with a mature palate, you can appreciate the potency and complexity of an olive. But give it to a kid and they will spew it out of their mouth! There is so much to think about in this story. If you read this in High School, read it again as I think you will find a whole new world of meaning.

It can seem plodding at times. My high school son thought he took too many tangents, I found the tangents the most interesting. This book takes time, and it is not a happy story. Especially, if you see how relevant it is to us today.

This book is complex

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I haven't read Steinbeck in years and, honestly, avoided this one for a long time. I was so wrong. It is typical Steinbeck with his typical characters. I am enjoying every minute of it. I love the strong female protagonist.

My opinion of the harmonica is that it is a little loud compared to the rest of the recording. It sort of reminds me of "Oh Brother! Where Art Thou?" and helped me get into the period of the story. The harmonica player is fantastic and I would love to hear more of that particular player. Does anyone know who it is? The only problem is you don't know when the harmonica will break in and it can be jarring, plus it gets a little redundant.

The narrator is great and he has identifiable voices for each character. You can tell who is speaking before the author identifies the speaker.

Overall I really enjoyed this audiobook and I am inspired to read or re-read some Steinbeck in the near future.

What a timely novel with our current economy

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Grapes of Wrath to be better than the print version?

The audio version, with the expert handling of Dylan Baker, is far more enjoyable than the print version, because he brings the just-right tone of voice to each of the characters. The inter-chapters can be tricky to navigate and fully comprehend, in terms of their purpose, in print, but Baker made them sensible and clear-of-purpose. I am deeply impressed by this audio book!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could've spent the hours it takes for Baker to make his way through this tale in one sitting if only I didn't have a full-time job and family to mind...his reading was brilliant and the story--dare I bother to say?--is riveting.

Any additional comments?

This is not one to miss...if you are questioning whether or not to listen to this classic on audible.com, I implore you to buy it and listen. I have no doubt you will be glad you did!

Brilliant!

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Very well performed which unfortunately can’t be separated from the novel even if the novel is remarkable if it’s poorly performed-well this is audible - too the novel which depicts very accurately the poverty and humiliation American farmers and folks of the land suffered.

Steinbeck at his best

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It’s so well narrated but I get jump-scared by load harmonica noises constantly. I guess it’s meant to provide ambiance but instead I found it really distracting.

Death to harmonica

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