All authors have a story behind them and something that makes their writing unique. John Steinbeck was one of those authors. With a rocky start in Steinbeck's life, she used her experiences and travels to develop literary works that would be highly regarded and distinguish him as a leading American writer. Born in Salinas, California; John Steinbeck was a quiet and very reserved man from his birth, despite all the fame of his books (Swisher 15). From the beginning of his life, tragedy struck; starting with the testimony of an earthquake. Steinbeck witnessed an earthquake that frightened him immensely (Swisher 13). After Steinbeck's turbulent start to life, he continued to struggle when he started school. Due to his socially awkward nature, children at school began to make fun of him (Swisher 13). Since life was not getting easier for the young Steinbeck, his father decided to change the boy's home environment by exposing him to the realistic lifestyle of farming. To help Steinbeck gain responsibility, his father bought him a pony, Jill, and let Steinbeck raise him as if he were the boy's own son (Swisher 14). His father's techniques were successful because he began to excel in school so much that he managed to skip fifth grade. Every summer, Steinbeck would visit his aunt Molly, so he could experience the literature and music that his parents couldn't give him (Swisher 14). One summer, Steinbeck's aunt bought him a book as a gift and Steinbeck hated the book (Swisher 14). “I stared at the black print with hatred, and then gradually the pages opened and let me in. Magic happened. The Bible, Shakespeare, and Pilgrim's Progress belonged to everyone. But this was mine --- Secretly mine," wrote Ste... in the middle of the paper... like all authors, Steinbeck had many critics who criticized many aspects of his literature. After his first two books went completely unnoticed , Steinbeck published his first book to public acclaim, Tortilla Flat (Simkins). His books were criticized for political content, especially communism (Simkins was never concerned with money, only approval). of critics. His goal was to establish himself critically, so he took the negative publicity at its worst (Simkins started with some difficulties and grew up in a difficult period, but he proved that nothing would). stopped and went on to win several Pulitzer Prizes and captivated audiences with his publication of The Grapes of Wrath While he began as a private boy who was teased as a boy, Steinbeck took every opportunity to establish himself as a great American writer.