Steinbeck worked throughout his summers in the early 20s as a farmhand and rancher in the Salinas Valley area. Although the 20s preceded the 30s Depression era that he wrote about, chances are, he well understood the plight of young men working for a period of time to just make a few bucks while there were bucks to be made despite the purpose.
He actually attended Salinas High School, so he well knew the area. As his writing career was taking off and his worldview was taking shape, the Depression hit. Obviously his writing demonstrates sensitivity to the Depression. Born in 1902, he was in his 30s then. This time period for most is a securing of identity and understanding of the world around us.
There is a national society devoted to maintaining his legend. Check out steinbeck.org
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