John Steinbeck's 'dance' between two worlds Early years and career Born on Feb 27, in Salinas, California, John Steinbeck was an American novelist who earned his fame as 'an analyst of the American soul'. As riveting as his books are, the famed novelist was best known for his landmark work, entitled The Grapes of Wrath (published back in 1939), the focus of which falls upon many social and economic issues. The family of the notable author was a t...