Hacker News Reader

isn't it obviously steinbeck?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_of_Eden_(novel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath (one of the best books i've ever read)

I think that steinbeck is probably the correct answer. the iliad and the odyssey are not just "action epics", they are parable-ish in what they communicate to readers (or listeners) of their society. For example, it's not a coincidence that odysseus sleeps around the aegean sea while penelope chases suitors off at home.

Twain is a pretty good second choice, but Steinbeck has a pretty good lock on parables of American aspirations and its society both good and bad.

Steinbeck also wrote "the pearl" and of course "of mice and men"

Steinbeck by far. The Grapes of Wrath is frighteningly relevant now even almost 100 years later..

Reply on news.ycombinator.com