Books in the Greenwood Guides to Fiction series

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is one of the most widely read American novels. The novel was published near the end of the Great Depression, yet its issues remain provocative and current, generating considerable critical debate.

A detailed summary of the novel's plot is followed by a close examination of the novel's genesis, its publication history, and the merits of various editions and translations. Later chapters discuss the social and cultural contexts informing the work, Flaubert's literary craftsmanship, and the novel's critical reception.

Perhaps the most important literary achievement of the 20th century, Ulysses is also one of the most challenging. This work introduces beginning readers to Joyce and his novel, and illuminates the critical dialogue surrounding his work.