East of Eden by John Steinbeck
This novel is a multi-generational epic that follows the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families in the Salinas Valley in California. The story is deeply rooted in biblical allegory, particularly the tale of Cain and Abel, as it explores themes of love, guilt, freedom, and the inherent good and evil in human nature. The narrative provides a profound, complex portrayal of family and individual struggles with morality and love, while also reflecting on the social changes affecting America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The 353rd greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 9th on Big Read (Bulgarian) (Bulgaria)
- 33rd on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- 45th on The Greatest Books of All Time (Reader's Digest)
- 63rd on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 63rd on The 100 Favorite Novels of Librarians (Bookman.com)
- 65th on Big Read (Hungarian) (Hungaria)
- 133rd on The Big Read (BBC)
- 157th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- Masterpieces of World Literature (Frank N. Magill)