John Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902. He was born in Salinas, California and was the third of four children. His parents were John Ernst and Olive Hamilton Steinbeck. He lived in Salinas Valley all during his childhood and teens. He attended Salinas High School and studied at Stanford College. He did not complete college. In August of 1929 he published his first novel Cup of Gold. In January 14,1930 John married Carol Henning. He was mostly remembered for his novel The Grapes of Wrath (April 1939), which is considered one of the best novels of the 20th century. Other works include Of Mice and Men, The Pearl and Canne