3 Review(s)

In these twelve interrelated stories, John Steinbeck's beautifully rendered descriptions reveal the small yet fateful moments that transform ordinary lives. Among the industrious, enduring inhabitants of Pastures of Heaven are: Bert Munroe of Battle farm, who believes himself cursed; Edward Wicks, the over-protective father, destined for disappointment; the mysterious 'unfinished' child found in a bush; and Helen Van Deventer, who endures whatever fate throws her way. As the individual dramas unfold, Steinbeck movingly portrays the disintegration of a community as one family's insensitivity and misguided behaviour erode the harmony and dreams which once formed the foundation of all their lives.