Steinbeck and America's Liberal Political Tradition

This article examines John Steinbeck's statements about U.S. politics in light of America's constantly evolving liberal discourse. The article first looks at similarities between Steinbeck's commitment to creativity and six major tenets of liberal thought. The piece then discusses how Steinbeck's views on poverty and racism diverged from the policy agenda of the Great Society liberals. The article closes with thoughts about the relevance of Steinbeck's ideas after the election of President Donald Trump.