East of EdenEast of Eden
What it's about
In California's Salinas Valley, from the Civil War to World War I, Steinbeck follows two families: his own ancestors, the large, warm Hamilton clan led by the inventive Samuel, and the troubled Trasks. Adam Trask builds a life in the valley with a beautiful woman who is not what she seems, and his twin sons Cal and Aron grow up repeating the story of Cain and Abel, struggling with their father's love and the question of whether we're free to choose who we become.
Why it's worth reading
Steinbeck called it his masterpiece, and many readers agree: a big, generous, gripping family saga with one of literature's great villains and a profoundly hopeful idea at its heart. Many people call it their favorite novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Grapes of Wrath, Lonesome Dove or The Godfather
Good to know
It's about 600 pages and moves between the two families and across decades. Cathy's chapters are dark, with violence and sexual cruelty.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 40%+45
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%+0
- Bestseller80 out of 100 · counts 32% (its stronger lane)+29
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 15%+0
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero.
On the BBC's The Big Read list. #1 New York Times bestseller (11 weeks at #1). 4.46★ from 761K Goodreads ratings.
Where it ranks
- #16 of the 251 historical novels we rank
- #17 of the 520 classics we rank
- #63 of the 1,405 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (11 weeks at #1)
On the lists
- BBC's The Big Read
Reads as
Moving
More by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath
The Moon Is Down
Of Mice and Men
