Susan Shillinglaw sitting on a chair

One Book Steamboat: An Evening with Susan Shillinglaw

Thursday, October 25, 2018 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
  • Conference Room - Administration Wing
"80 Years On: The Grapes of Wrath, Urgent Then, Urgent Now," a conversation with one of America's top Steinbeck scholars

The Grapes of Wrath remains relevant in the 21st century, indeed an urgent book for today. John Steinbeck addresses the universal issues of migrations, being un-homed, the dignity of work, the need for home and family and an empathetic community. Ma Joad models empathy, dignity, and pluck. Tom Joad is engaged in the struggle of his era — learning the importance of participation.

About the speaker

Susan Shillinglaw, Ph.D., is a Professor of English at San Jose State University, where she was director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies for 18 years. In 2012-13 she was named the SJSU President’s Scholar. She was also Director of the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas from 2015-2018. Dr. Shillinglaw has published widely on Steinbeck, most recently Carol and John Steinbeck: Portrait of a Marriage and On Reading The Grapes of Wrath. She is working on a third edition of A Journey into Steinbeck’s California. She also wrote introductions to several of Steinbeck books for Penguin New American Library editions.

This is a featured event in the 2018 ONE BOOK STEAMBOAT community read of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath.