<P> The British newspaper The Guardian, in a 2013 article that revealed that Steinbeck had been a compromise choice for the Nobel Prize, called him a "Giant of American Letters". Despite ongoing attacks on his literary reputation, Steinbeck's works continue to sell well and he is widely taught in American and British schools as a bridge to more complex literature . Works such as Of Mice and Men are short and easy to read, and compassionately illustrate universal themes that are still relevant in the 21st century . </P> <P> Steinbeck grew up in California's Salinas Valley, a culturally diverse place with a rich migratory and immigrant history . This upbringing imparted a regionalistic flavor to his writing, giving many of his works a distinct sense of place . Salinas, Monterey and parts of the San Joaquin Valley were the setting for many of his stories . The area is now sometimes referred to as "Steinbeck Country". Most of his early work dealt with subjects familiar to him from his formative years . An exception was his first novel, Cup of Gold, which concerns the pirate Henry Morgan, whose adventures had captured Steinbeck's imagination as a child . </P> <P> In his subsequent novels, Steinbeck found a more authentic voice by drawing upon direct memories of his life in California . His childhood friend, Max Wagner, a brother of Jack Wagner and who later became a film actor, served as inspiration for The Red Pony . Later he used actual American conditions and events in the first half of the 20th century, which he had experienced first - hand as a reporter . Steinbeck often populated his stories with struggling characters; his works examined the lives of the working class and migrant workers during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression . </P> <P> His later work reflected his wide range of interests, including marine biology, politics, religion, history and mythology . One of his last published works was Travels with Charley, a travelogue of a road trip he took in 1960 to rediscover America . </P>

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