1. John Steinbeck is one of America's most beloved and well-known authors. His writing style was sparse and direct, and many scholars believe he's second only to Hemingway when it comes to having an influence on American literature.
If you're writing an essay on how Steinbeck's life played a role in the quality and content of his work, there are many available resources. It's a good idea to take into consideration that he wrote each book as an 'experiment' in literary technique. Each of his novels reflects another attempt at developing a style that relayed the expression and mood he wanted to convey. These experiments coincided with where he was in life - his emotions, physical location, and relationships.
Check out these links:
http://faculty.georgetown.edu/bassr/heath/syllabuild/iguide/steinbec.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck
http://www.steinbeck.org/pages/john-steinbeck-biography"
