“A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ,” - John Steinbeck. This quote explains a lot about Steinbeck's life and his perspective on the time period in which he lived. The majority of the America at the time was sad, and it seemed easy for many to just give up. Steinbeck lived in a time period that was overwhelmingly pessimistic, yet was able to become very successful. This is Steinbeck's story as told through his biography, literary works, life experiences, and his legacy. John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California (Webster 1338). He was born into a middle class family and was the third of four children being the only boy (Hamilton 26). His father, John Ernst Steinbeck, was a county treasurer, and his