John Steinbeck (1902-1968) passed away on December 20, 1968, in New York City at the age of 66. Steinbeck was an award-winning American author and a Nobel Prize laureate who was widely acclaimed for his works of fiction. Born in Salinas, California, he was the author of over twenty books, including classics such as Of Mice and Men (1937), The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and East of Eden (1952). A masterful and prolific writer, Steinbeck also wrote several non-fiction books, including a memoir, and his works were widely read and adapted for TV, films, and theater. Steinbeck was awarded both a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for Literature for his writing. Steinbeck is remembered as a great storyteller who captivated many with his tales and made a lasting influence on American culture and literature. He will be deeply missed.