By now, it’s been made very clear that I love the works of John Steinbeck. East of Eden (1952) is no exception. The book tells the tale of two families, the Hamiltons and the Trasks, who both come to live in the Salinas Valley, California. The Hamilton’s are said to be based on the real family of Samuel Hamilton, Steinbeck’s grandfather. The writer himself also appears briefly in the story, which makes it feel even more like the truth ( at least to some extent). Samuel Hamilton struggles to make a living on an infertile piece of land and he is known to be an inventor with a good heart. Adam Trask on the other hand, grew up in a military home on the east coast and came to the Valley a rich man. He is head over heals in love with his beautiful wife Cathy, but she is full of secrets and runs away from him after giving birth to twin sons.
The book offers an intricate weave of colorful characters and some fo them you would love to have as your best friends, while others appear to be the devil’s offspring. The book is also closely related to the Bible and the story from Genesis about Cain and Abel. Salinas Valley also plays a vital part in the book and is so well described by Steinbeck that it feels like I have visited the place in person.
In the short, the book is beautifully written and I truly recommend it. If Steinbeck is still a writer for you to discover, I envy you, and if he is already someone you love, I understand you fully. If you on the other hand don’t like his books, well, that is fine too, but maybe you should give him another try?
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