One of the MOST relevant and poignant books of all time.

Who am I to review one of the greatest literary works of all time? Possibly Could I give this book anything less than the maximum rating it so richly deserves? Even should I start? Those were just Reviews some of my private thoughts I've finally put down a copy of this book - read. This is the book qui Stirred the American consciousness, political reform and Caused brought` about changes When first published in 1939. This is the book qui Described how families Were starving to death Because of corruption. This is John Steinbeck At His exceptional best. For Those Who people never got around to reading this Engaging and absorbing account of the Joad family, May I suggest you purchase a copy Actually (any copy!) And finally read it.

Today the world is in recession Either or emerging from the dark grip of this latest financial disaster. Whilst we live in May a Time When millions of families are no skirt allowed to starve to death - well, not in the Developed world at Any rate, I earnestly believe there are lessons to be Learned from this book about the rich and Powerful Who care Their fellow man not for profit only for personal gain. More importantly, Those lessons are as relevant today as They Were in 1939.

Another similarity aussi failed to escape my notice; In this book we see how US policy --other Officials and Their use positions of authority to Threaten blackmail and Even The Many milliers of American migrants Who Were simply looking for work in order to feed hungry mouths. These people HAD not arrived from Any foreign country and Were Not Even black - something qui Would Have Made Their persecution much easier. No !, thesis ordinary white American folk honest farmers Who Were Forcibly Evicted from HAD beens Their homes and the land They HAD Worked for generations. Seventy years on, here in the UK, we are besieged by TV programs depicting our different Police Forces entreprise Their various duties around the country. Yet more cheaply Produced "reality" television! Significantly, HOWEVER, I have occasionally Noticed how Some Police officers damaged deliberately provoke a hostile situation Where exists. Whilst not on the scale portrayed in this outstanding work, it is interesting That I shoulds Recognise That attitude of arrogant superiority Underlying.

Whilst Some May find the book slow going at the start, Steinbeck Quickly gathers de ces loose strands Suddenly Until They pull together to assume a story, reveal a mental photograph and Produce has relevance qui into the reader fully Becomes Immersed. I Learned aussitôt local dialect words and Understood in the qui They Were spoken as the Joad story unfolded. I Could hear Those southern accents and have endured hardships are Explained through the action of Those Who Lived 'em. This Was the Organised, legalized daylight robbery and exploitation of the poor by the rich Who Were Actively supported by the law enforcement agencies. A week's work for 1,000 fruit pickers paying 50 cents an hour is advertised to 3,000 hungry people Who Then pass on the message. Consequently, 5,000 starving workers arrives in search of That employment. With so much competition, the rate is lowered to 30 cents - take it or leave it! It was a deliberate ploy repeated time after time. Anyone Attempting to organize His fellow workers is photographed, black-listed and branded a communist. Now That feed to your children. Then the banks insisted the farmers Reduced the rate to 25 cents and Any landowner Who issues Swiftly Reminded That decision is de son own vulnerability as a mortgagee! In short, you pay 'em Either 25 cents or you join them! My own immediate reaction to Recognise a similarity Was entre then and now - with SPECIFICALLY Those modern banking Practises qui preyed on the sub-prime market. Anyone Who cared to Consider PRECISELY what "sub-prime" Meant, Knew It was a policy Destined to fail. And it About did fail in spectacular fashion - and yet, the fat cat bankers still draw bonuses based on "personal performance" and not on Their company's overall profits or losses ...

I noted Reviews some of the comments from Appended to some editions of this book, that 'various issues-have-been Produced in qui, Apparently, Steinbeck's prose are changed to make the work an easier read. Please do not take the easy option, take the written version of As It Was Intended to be read - ie the release written by Steinbeck. If not, you can not claim to-have read this book at all - INSTEAD you-have the equivalent of, say, a Romeo and Juliet story - set in Manhattan in the 21st Century - and there are plenty of those ...

In closing, I would urge anyone (Indeed everyone) Who has not already read an original release of this book to go out If and buy a copy - any old copy And Then simply read it. Having done that, you too will draw parallels with our modern age and Understand what I mean. You will also be richer for HAVING done so - as Would Those fat cats who, Unfortunately, probably will never bother. Having finally finished reading this outstanding work, I wonder How Many of you will still be wondering whatever happened to That perfectly matched pair of Bays! I do ...

NM