Patti Abbott
EAST OF EDEN, John Steinbeck
I was a freshman in college when I read
this book. I realized as I reached its end that the feverish pitch of
the novel was probably at le
ast
partially based on the fact that I was feverish myself—sick in the way
that kids that age and away from home get sick. I lay on my narrow dormitory bed,
skipping classes, skipping meals, and reading EAST OF EDEN. When I was
finished, I read four or five more Steinbecks in succession, enjoying
them all but not perhaps as much as this one.
ast
partially based on the fact that I was feverish myself—sick in the way
that kids that age and away from home get sick. I lay on my narrow dormitory bed,
skipping classes, skipping meals, and reading EAST OF EDEN. When I was
finished, I read four or five more Steinbecks in succession, enjoying
them all but not perhaps as much as this one.
It
was exactly the kind of book that appealed to me then: a family saga
that was long, complicated, sad, over the top perhaps. When I reread it a
few years ago, I still enjoyed it but felt a red pencil might have
strengthened it.
EAST OF EDEN was published in 1962 and its title refers to the place where the biblical Cain goes after murdering his brother, Abel. The novel begins in Connecticut where Adam Trask and his older brother, Charles, live on a farm owned by their father, Cyrus, whom we later learn he has stolen money. Much of the first half of the novel concerns their relationship with the kindly and noble Hamilton family. After Cyrus’ death, Adam enters the army while his brother Charles stays on the farm and grows rich.
After his release Adam marries Cathy Trask and the couple move to Salinas, California, where she becomes pregnant. She gives birth to Cal and Aron but deserts the boys, shooting Adam while running away to live in a whorehouse. Cathy has few redemptive qualities and seems determined to debase herself and destroy everyone around her.
Adam and his servant, Lee, raise the two boys. One night Cal
takes Aron to the house of prostitution owned by Cathy, showing him his
mother for what she is. Like their father and uncle before the, the
brothers resemble the biblical Cain and Abel. Aron is killed in combat
(World War 1) and Cal
falls in love with his brother’s longtime girl friend, Abra Bacon. Adam
who has suffered a stroke following the shocking death of Aron forgives
Cal for his sins.
This
is certainly one of Steinbeck’s best novels and a classic for me.
Despite its rigid notion of good and evil—people are mostly one or the
other—its rich storyline, the beauty of the writing and its compelling
nature, still make it a favorite.
For more forgotten books, see Evan Lewis right here.
6 comments:
I probably read this about the same time you did, back in the days when I loved big, thick family sagas. Thought it was great, and I still remember certain parts of it vividly.
I must admit that I've never read it. I loved Steinbeck back in those days but somehow never read this. I did see the movie. I wonder how I'd feel about it now if I read it for the first time, as I almost did a few years ago when Oprah was hyping it (though her endorsement turned me off).
Jeff M.
I've read a lot of Steinbeck, but not this one.
What RkR said. I haven't read this book. The last Steinbeck novel I read was THE MOON IS DOWN, a novella actually.
I loved this book then and now. It's the book I recommend when anyone asks me about Steinbeck.
I too read it in college and remember liking it well. I wished though more space had been given to Charles.
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