Tortilla Flat

by John Steinbeck

Genres: Classics; Historical Fiction; Small Town & Rural

Synopsis

Set in Monterey, California, Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row, and Sweet Thursday, have become classic fare for both students and aficionados of American literature. Inspired by Arthurian legend, Tortilla Flat became popular in its own time as an escape from the daily grind of the Great Depression. Danny and his friends are paisanos, people of mixed breed who claim pure Spanish descent, live by their own rules, and decline the burden of honest toil. When Danny inherits his grandfather’s house, it becomes a sort of Round Table for them, a place to find companionship, to drink wine, and to share stories. These colorful innocents are bound together by loyalty and by their search for their own version of the Holy Grail. John McDonough’s superb narration animates this compelling testament to hard times when friendship and a code of honor were worth more than gold. Danny’s story is as moving today as it was a generation ago.

Release date: June 1, 1997

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Print pages: 208