John Steinbeck 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. 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.
John Bowe (author) Media Award for reportage of hunger- and poverty-related issues. John Bowe (author) John Bowe (born 1964 in Minnesota) is an American author. He is a contributing writer for "The New York Times". He has also written for "The New Yorker", "The American Prospect", "GQ", "McSweeney's", and "This American Life". He co-wrote the screenplay for the film "Basquiat" with Julian Schnabel. He graduated from Minneapolis' Blake School in 1982, obtained an honors BA in English from the University of Minnesota in 1987 and earned an MFA in film from the Columbia University School of the Arts in 1996. "Us: Americans Talk