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John Steinbeck

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Of Mice and Men (Penguin Modern Classics) New e. Edition, Kindle Edition

by John Steinbeck (Author), Susan Shillinglaw (Introduction) Format: Kindle Edition

42,315 ratings

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Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back - and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California's Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie - struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy - becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America's lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck's most popular work, achieving success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films.

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Steinbeck refuses to allow himself to be pigeonholed. This is as completely different from Tortilla Flat and In Dubious Battle as they are from each other. Only in his complete understanding of the proletarian mentality does he sustain a connecting link - though this is assuredly not a "proletarian novel". It is oddly absorbing - this picture of the strange friendship between the strong man and the giant with the mind of a not-quite-bright child. Driven from job to job by the failure of the giant child to fit into the social pattern, they finally find - in a ranch - what they feel their chance to achieve a homely dream they have built. There's a simplicity, a directness, a poignancy in the story that gives it a singular power, difficult to define. Steinbeck is a genius - and an original. (Kirkus Reviews )

From the Back Cover

Of Mice and Men was John Steinbeck's first masterpiece. Originally published in 1937, it's the timeless story of George Milton and Lennie Small, ranch hands who drift from job to job, always one step ahead of the law and a few dollars from the poorhouse. George is small, wiry, sharp-tongued and quick-tempered; slow witted Lennie is his opposite - an immense man, brutishly strong but naturally docile, a giant with the mind of a child. Despite their difference, George and Lennie are bound together by a shared vision: their own small farm, where they'll raise cows, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, where they'll be their own bosses and live off the fat of the land. When they find work on a ranch in California's Salinas Valley, the dream at last seems within reach. If they can just save up a little money... But their hopes, like the best-laid schemes of mice and men, begin to go awry. The story unfolds with the power and inevitability of a Greek tragedy, as Lennie commits an accidental murder, and George, in a riveting, deeply moving finale, must do what he can to make things turn our right.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002RI9VVM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 7, 2000
Edition ‏ : ‎ New e.
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 116 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141923475
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14+ years, from customers

Best Sellers Rank: #717,053 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #15 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #57 in Teen & Young Adult Classic Literature
- #57 in Classic Literary Fiction

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42,315 ratings

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John Steinbeck

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John Steinbeck (1902-1968), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, achieved popular success in 1935 when he published Tortilla Flat. He went on to write more than twenty-five novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

Photo by JohnSteinbeck.JPG: US Government derivative work: Homonihilis (JohnSteinbeck.JPG) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Customer reviews

42,315 global ratings

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Customers praise the book's writing style, particularly its dialect that's easy to read, and its engaging plot with unexpected twists. Moreover, the visual style receives positive feedback for its vivid depictions and masterful use of imagery, while the character development is well-received for its realistic portrayal of the characters. Additionally, customers appreciate the story's portrayal of friendship between George and Lennie, its bittersweet nature, and consider it good value for money. However, the heartwarming story aspect receives mixed reactions, with some finding it heartwarming while others describe it as depressing.

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Writing style Plot quality Visual style Character development Sadness Value for money Friendship Heartwarming story

203 customers mention "Writing style"157 positive46 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting that Steinbeck uses simple language that is easy to read.

"Pro's: (1) inexpensive; (2) very clear, beautifully framed writing; (3) centered on Alienation and the death of the American Dream...." Read more

"...Although it is not a long read, it is extremely well written." Read more

"...The author uses vocabulary in an interesting way. He uses poor grammar and slang words to speak like the characters...." Read more

"...all the aspects of the relationship between George and Lenny were slightly unclear. The book ended with me wishing I knew more about George...." Read more

139 customers mention "Plot quality"124 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a dense and suspenseful story that keeps readers engaged throughout, with a surprising twist at the end.

"...John Steinbeck in a few short pages has written a classic story of two migrant workers and the American Dream as well as exploring the concept of..." Read more

"...I felt Mr. Sinise was really excellent and I highly recommend the audiobook version as read by Mr. Sinise...." Read more

"...The author's voice is a narrative style and it's written in the way the characters actually spoke. The characters talk like poor, uneducated people...." Read more

"...Of course it's a great story. I loved the emotional pitch and the powerful ending but I'm left wondering if it has the timelessness of his other..." Read more

89 customers mention "Visual style"82 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual style, praising its descriptive beauty and vivid depictions of the setting, while also noting the author's masterful use of imagery.

"This book never disappoints and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read. It never lets me down no matter how matter times I’ve read it" Read more

"...In the beginning to every chapter, the landscapes and surroundings are vividly detailed making the reader actually believe he is there watching the..." Read more

"...It is beautiful, poignant, and ultimately painful. The second episode is "The Great Mountains"...." Read more

"...I really like how Steinbeck has such amazing imagery and uses specific details in the book for the reader to really picture what is going on in the..." Read more

86 customers mention "Character development"81 positive5 negative

Customers praise the well-developed characters in the book, noting that the language is realistic for the time period.

"Love John Steinbeck. Very protective friendship between the men in book" Read more

"...story for the remainder of the chapter. Each character in the story is well described. Always described upon first entering the story...." Read more

"...I thought that the characters felt very real. They seemed real because Steinbeck gave the right amount of descriptions about each of them...." Read more

"...He's wise, but not preachingly so. He's sardonic, but not depressingly so. He's plain-spoken, yet authoritative. But most of all he's insightful...." Read more

81 customers mention "Sadness"70 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the sadness in the book, describing it as a bittersweet tale of friendship and dreams that follows the normal tragedy of life without being depressingly so.

"...This is, as many of John Steinbeck’s novels seem to be, is both tragic and depressing; however, this is about a novel about life, which has..." Read more

"...He's wise, but not preachingly so. He's sardonic, but not depressingly so. He's plain-spoken, yet authoritative. But most of all he's insightful...." Read more

"...The story itself was heart-wrenching. It was a story about dreams and broken dreams and how life intertwines with death...." Read more

"...story set in difficult times that speaks of brotherhood, protection, misery, madness and hope...." Read more

78 customers mention "Value for money"65 positive13 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money, appreciating that they can save by buying used copies.

"Pro's: (1) inexpensive; (2) very clear, beautifully framed writing; (3) centered on Alienation and the death of the American Dream...." Read more

"...Mice and Men by John Steinbeck” that I purchased on Amazon for a bargain price...." Read more

"Great price on a book for school reading. The pages are thin but not an issue. Read once and passed to someone else still going strong." Read more

"...The paperback one is a good value cheaper here than in stores." Read more

61 customers mention "Friendship"61 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the portrayal of friendship in the book, particularly the relationship between George and Lennie, and one customer notes how the human connection is essential for life.

"...inexpensive; (2) very clear, beautifully framed writing; (3) centered on Alienation and the death of the American Dream...." Read more

"...Theme (4 stars) - Obviously, the big theme here is friendship and how it's not what you say but what you do that makes you a friend...." Read more

"...While it is graced with beautiful friendships and the milk of human kindness, the book also explores the darkest aspects of humanity, and the ugly..." Read more

"...It’s something to bond over and talk about. A book about friendship and love." Read more

246 customers mention "Heartwarming story"166 positive80 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's emotional content, with some finding it heartwarming and profound, while others describe it as depressing.

"...this is about a novel about life, which has happiness, joy, and hope, but also sorrow, tragedy, and sadness...." Read more

"...It is beautiful, poignant, and ultimately painful. The second episode is "The Great Mountains"...." Read more

"...There is such longing, such sorrow among these broken misfit characters...." Read more

"...I really like how Steinbeck has such amazing imagery and uses specific details in the book for the reader to really picture what is going on in the..." Read more

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DebbyLA
Steinbeck is a great master story teller
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2025
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If you haven’t read this classic , you must. His characters are so real and they alwyas tug at your heart.

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Robert
A classic and everyone should read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
A classic and everyone should read. Read in school and later in life and the story is timeless!

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Paulo Branco
Protecting the vulnerable
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
A conflicting moral dilemma whether to protect the those who don't know what they are doing. The mind of a child in the body of a powerful man can create a monster. George's care and loyalty to Lennie is heart warming.

The characters in the book are well crafted. Unfortunately there are too many unintended grammatical errors to award 5 stars.

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Cody Johnson
An Absolute Classic
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
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This book never disappoints and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read. It never lets me down no matter how matter times I’ve read it

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Bobette G. Rego
Great Classic book
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
I just had to have this book. Read it in high school about 45 years ago. Enjoyed it just as much now.

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SArmst2547
Short, excellent novella; timeless in post-industrial America
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
Pro's: (1) inexpensive; (2) very clear, beautifully framed writing; (3) centered on Alienation and the death of the American Dream.
Con's: (1) Uses the n-word several times, hence may not be "usable" in a high school curriculum; (2) part of alienation story is alienation from women, which some readers may find unacceptable in today's culture. This alienation is one of the central themes of the story, however.

Consider modern American political alienation against this quote (p. 71): "The thing is, they're talking, or the settin' still and not talkin'. It don't make no difference, no difference."

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Sandra Iler Kirkland
A Tale Of Friendship
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2023
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How did I ever let so much time go by before reading this masterpiece? John Steinbeck in a few short pages has written a classic story of two migrant workers and the American Dream as well as exploring the concept of friendship and what we owe each other.

George and Lennie have been together on the road. They grew up together and George knows that Lennie, while a huge man who can outwork anyone, is simple and childlike and needs help and direction. They ride the rails, stopping to work on ranches and farms. They usually don't stay long enough to get a stake ahead as Lennie tends to do things out of ignorance for the consequences of his actions that get them both in trouble.

The two men have a dream. They want to save up enough to buy a small farm that George knows about. They will have a few cows, some chickens and just enough crops to feed them and have a bit to sell for things they can't make or grow themselves. They will have rabbits and Lennie wants nothing more than to take care of the rabbits.

But this ranch may not be the place to make their dreams come true. The other ranch hands seem pretty much okay and they understand Lennie's limitations. But the son of the owner is a mean man, a little man who has married a beauty who only wants to be discovered and make it in the movies. Barring that, she wants male attention and will do anything to get it.

Steinbeck wrote about the underside of the American Dream. He wrote of men like George and Lennie, migrant workers whose only comfort was the friendship they found in each other. He wrote of how getting old in an America that only values money is heartbreaking and cruel. He wrote of what we all owe each other and how kindness is the only gift some people can give. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

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26 people found this helpful

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Curlyque
Tiny print
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
Get your reading glasses out -- the type is very small!

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6 people found this helpful

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B Camacho
Ink comes off the cover
Reviewed in the Netherlands on May 24, 2025
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The ink of the front of the book comes off, leaving the white marks on my hands

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Honza
This book is a classic
Reviewed in Spain on July 30, 2015
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I love the way Steinbeck plays with the language – flowery descriptions of sceneries and situations are in contrast with the way how the characters, un-educated man of the time speak. The story is brilliant, captivating, sad and beautiful.

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Oliver
Kurzes, aber eindringliches Buch mit starker Botschaft – literarisch wie menschlich beeindruckend
Reviewed in Germany on June 9, 2025
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Of Mice and Men hat mich sowohl sprachlich als auch inhaltlich sehr positiv überrascht. Der Roman ist relativ kurz und daher auch schnell zu lesen – trotzdem hat er eine emotionale Tiefe und moralische Aussage, die lange nachwirkt.

Die Geschichte ist schnörkellos, direkt und sehr bildhaft erzählt. Was mir besonders gefallen hat, ist, wie Steinbeck es schafft, große Themen wie Freundschaft, Einsamkeit, Hoffnung und Enttäuschung in einer einfachen, aber kraftvollen Erzählung zu bündeln.

Man muss sich beim Lesen etwas an die authentische Sprachwiedergabe des ländlichen amerikanischen Englisch der 1930er-Jahre gewöhnen – insbesondere an den umgangssprachlich geprägten Dialogstil der Figuren. Das ist stilistisch gewollt und verleiht der Geschichte viel Realismus, kann anfangs aber etwas ungewohnt wirken.

In der Summe ist Of Mice and Men ein zeitloses Werk, das sowohl literarisch als auch gesellschaftlich relevant bleibt – und das man durchaus auch mehrfach lesen kann, um immer wieder neue Nuancen zu entdecken.

Klare Empfehlung für alle, die klassische Literatur mögen, die bewegt – ohne überladen zu sein.

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Dodie
A classic Steinbeck short novel
Reviewed in Australia on February 25, 2017
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I have not read this Steinbeck for years. It is such a powerful short novel that I will want to read it again soon. The friendship between two men in California in the depression era leads to some very difficult dilemmas for the man with the stronger personality. He cares for his friend who is intellectually slow. They share a dream to own their own farm. Reality gets in the way! The different personalities of all the cast are beautifully written in the minimum words. The only female in the tale is so sensitively written that even as she causes problems for all the men, I felt sympathy for her.
Steinbeck's talent to create a whole world in a few short sentences has been a source of pleasure to me over my reading history. I think I first read him in the mid 1960s and have reread most of hid books since. I don't know why I hadn't read Of Mice and Men more often.

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Gerardo
Bonita historia.
Reviewed in Mexico on April 3, 2021
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
Buen libro, para alumnos de inglés avanzado.

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Of Mice and Men (Penguin Modern Classics) New e. Edition, Kindle Edition

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My favorite book of all time !

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3.0 out of 5 stars Ink comes off the cover

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a classic

5.0 out of 5 stars Kurzes, aber eindringliches Buch mit starker Botschaft – literarisch wie menschlich beeindruckend

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic Steinbeck short novel

5.0 out of 5 stars Bonita historia.

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Ink comes off the cover

This book is a classic

Kurzes, aber eindringliches Buch mit starker Botschaft – literarisch wie menschlich beeindruckend

A classic Steinbeck short novel

Bonita historia.