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This collection of 23 essays is the result of a worldwide effort to assess both the contemporary state of critical understanding of John Steinbeck's works and the extent of his cultural influence as we near the centennial of his birth in 2002. Essays by contributors from the United States, Japan, France, England, Thailand and India explore the enduring themes of Steinbeck's work. Further, they simultaneously employ contemporary, increasingly sophisticated literary critical methodologies to create a more subtle and theoretically grounded evaluation. Topics treated in these wide-ranging essays include the historical and literary contexts and the artistic influence of the eminent novelist; the reception and translation of Steinbeck works outside the United States; Steinbeck's worldview, his social vision and his treatment of poverty, of self and of patriotism; and his influence on Native American writers.